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Catalytic Conversion and Utilization of Carbon-Based Energy
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Catalytic Conversion and Utilization of Carbon-Based Energy

A topical collection in Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344). This collection belongs to the section "Catalytic Materials".

Viewed by 1712

Editor

Dr. Jian Qi

E-Mail Website
Collection Editor
State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
Interests: inorganic solid catalytic materials; porous catalytic materials; energy; small molecule catalytic conversion; environmental catalysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Topical Collection Information

Dear Colleagues,

Currently, energy consumption and environmental pollution are becoming increasingly serious, posing severe challenges to the global energy structure and environmental protection. The carbon dioxide emissions generated during the utilization of carbon-based energy sources exacerbate the greenhouse effect and have a profound impact on the global climate. Therefore, the development of efficient and low-pollution new energy conversion technologies, especially catalytic conversion technologies for carbon-based energy, has become a current research hotspot and focus. Research related to the catalytic conversion of carbon-based energy not only involves traditional thermal catalysis, but also covers emerging technologies such as photocatalysis and electrocatalysis. These technologies provide important pathways for achieving sustainable development and carbon neutrality goals by optimizing catalytic processes, improving energy conversion efficiency, and reducing pollutant emissions.

In recent years, significant progress has been made in the field of carbon-based energy catalytic conversion. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and integration, researchers have proposed many new concepts, developed new methods, and created new materials, promoting innovation in catalytic processes. This topical collection focuses on the structure and surface interface characteristics of catalysts, as well as the influence and regulation of external environments on the electronic states of catalyst surfaces. It focuses on the catalytic activation of C-H and C-O bonds and C-C coupling reactions related to the efficient conversion of small molecules. Meanwhile, this topical collection also covers the in situ high-resolution characterization and establishment of new theoretical methods, providing a basis for the rational design of catalyst active centers at the molecular and atomic levels in the future.

If you would like to submit papers to this Topic Collection or have any questions, please contact the in-house editor, Ms. Rita Lin (rita.lin@mdpi.com).

Dr. Jian Qi
Collection Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Catalysts is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • carbon-based energy
  • catalytic conversion and utilization
  • catalyst structure design
  • reaction mechanism
  • energy utilization efficiency
  • environmental pollution
  • in situ characterization
  • hydrogenation reaction
  • oxidation reaction
  • dehydrogenation reaction
  • cracking reaction
  • coupling reaction
  • photocatalysis
  • electrocatalysis

Published Papers (2 papers)

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2025

11 pages, 3073 KiB  
Article
Observation of Light-Driven CO2 Photoreduction by Fluorescent Protein mRuby
by Jianshu Dong, Jiachong Xie and Qian Cao
Catalysts 2025, 15(6), 535; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15060535 - 27 May 2025
Viewed by 588
Abstract
As one of the key processes of photosynthesis, carbon fixation and reduction is one of the most important biochemical reactions on planet Earth. Yet, reducing oxidized carbon elements through directly harnessing solar energy by using water-soluble, simple enzymes continues to be challenging. Here, [...] Read more.
As one of the key processes of photosynthesis, carbon fixation and reduction is one of the most important biochemical reactions on planet Earth. Yet, reducing oxidized carbon elements through directly harnessing solar energy by using water-soluble, simple enzymes continues to be challenging. Here, CO2 and bicarbonate were found to be transformed into methanol by fluorescent protein mRuby by using light as the single energy input. The binding of substrates to mRuby chromophore was supported by crystallography and light spectrometry. Gas chromatography showed the generation of methanol in mRuby-bicarbonate aqueous solution upon sunlight illumination. Atomic-resolution serial structures of mRuby showed snapshots of the step-by-step reduction of bicarbonate and CO2. The amino, imino, or carboxylate group of residues near the chromophore was within hydrogen bonding distances of the substrates, respectively. A decrease in fluorescence was observed upon binding of bicarbonate, and the energy liberated from fluorescence was presumably utilized for methanol production. This research represents an exciting example of sunlight-driven photobiocatalysis by water-soluble small proteins. The new, green, and sustainable mechanisms uncovered here indicated great promises to harness solar energy straightforwardly, for, i.e., fuel production and green chemistry. Full article
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Figure 1

45 pages, 19249 KiB  
Review
Multidimensional Engineering of Nanoconfined Catalysis: Frontiers in Carbon-Based Energy Conversion and Utilization
by Qimin Fang, Qihan Sun, Jinming Ge, Haiwang Wang and Jian Qi
Catalysts 2025, 15(5), 477; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15050477 - 12 May 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 610
Abstract
Amid global efforts toward carbon neutrality, nanoconfined catalysis has emerged as a transformative strategy to address energy transition challenges through precise regulation of catalytic microenvironments. This review systematically examines recent advancements in nanoconfined catalytic systems for carbon-based energy conversion (CO2, CH [...] Read more.
Amid global efforts toward carbon neutrality, nanoconfined catalysis has emerged as a transformative strategy to address energy transition challenges through precise regulation of catalytic microenvironments. This review systematically examines recent advancements in nanoconfined catalytic systems for carbon-based energy conversion (CO2, CH4, etc.), highlighting their unique capability to modulate electronic structures and reaction pathways via quantum confinement and interfacial effects. By categorizing their architectures into dimension-oriented frameworks (1D nanotube channels, 2D layered interfaces, 3D core-shell structures, and heterointerfaces), we reveal how geometric constraints synergize with mass/electron transfer dynamics to enhance selectivity and stability. Critical optimization strategies—including heteroatom doping to optimize active site coordination, defect engineering to lower energy barriers, and surface modification to tailor local microenvironments—are analyzed to elucidate their roles in stabilizing metastable intermediates and suppressing catalyst deactivation. We further emphasize the integration of machine learning, in situ characterization, and modular design as essential pathways to establish structure–activity correlations and accelerate industrial implementation. This work provides a multidimensional perspective bridging fundamental mechanisms with practical applications to advance carbon-neutral energy systems. Full article
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