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Advanced Nanostructured Catalysts for the Harvesting and Storage of Electrochemical...
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Advanced Nanostructured Catalysts for the Harvesting and Storage of Electrochemical Energy

A special issue of Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344). This special issue belongs to the section "Electrocatalysis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 5017

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Syed Shaheen Shah

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Guest Editor
Socio-Environmental Energy Science Department, Graduate School of Energy Science, Kyoto University, Yoshida Honmachi, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
Interests: development and mechanistic investigation of advanced nanomaterials for electrochemical energy harvesting and storage applications, such as supercapacitors; batteries; electrochemical water splitting; sensors
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Md. Abdul Aziz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Interdisciplinary Research Center for Hydrogen Technologies and Carbon Management (IRC-HTCM), King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
Interests: electrochemical energy storage; electrochemical energy conversion; electrochemical sensors; supercapacitors; batteries; water electrolyzers; hydrogen production; electrode materials; electrolytes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The rapid evolution of electrochemical energy technologies is central to the global pursuit of clean, reliable, and sustainable energy systems. At the heart of these innovations lie advanced nanostructured catalysts, which have emerged as powerful tools for enhancing the performance, efficiency, and durability of energy harvesting and energy storage devices. Thanks to their unique physicochemical properties, such as their high surface area, tunable morphology, and tailored electronic structures, nanostructured catalysts have unlocked new possibilities for optimizing the electrochemical reactions that underpin critical technologies, including fuel cells, metal–air batteries, supercapacitors, and water-splitting systems.

This Special Issue aims to showcase cutting-edge research on the design, synthesis, and mechanistic understanding of nanostructured catalytic materials that are driving progress in electrochemical energy systems. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, novel nanomaterials for supercapacitors, batteries, fuel cells, water electrolyzers, oxygen evolution reactions (OERs), hydrogen evolution reactions (HERs), oxygen reduction reactions (ORRs), and CO2 electroreduction; multifunctional catalysts for integrated energy harvesting and storage; and strategies to improve stability, selectivity, and activity under realistic operating conditions.

In addition to experimental advances, this Special Issue also welcomes contributions leveraging theoretical modeling, in situ/operando characterization, and machine learning approaches that deepen the understanding of structure–activity relationships and guide the rational design of next-generation catalysts. By assembling innovative research and review articles, this Special Issue will serve as a platform to accelerate the development of high-performance nanostructured catalysts, driving the electrochemical energy transition and contributing to a sustainable and low-carbon-energy future.

Dr. Syed Shaheen Shah
Dr. Md. Abdul Aziz
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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

  • nanostructured catalysts
  • electrochemical energy storage
  • energy harvesting
  • oxygen evolution reaction (OER)
  • hydrogen evolution reaction (HER)
  • supercapacitors
  • fuel cells
  • advanced battery materials

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 4048 KB  
Article
Electrocatalytic Reduction of Oxygen on CuO-Immobilized Ag Surface Prepared by SILAR Method in Alkaline Medium
by Rawnak Laila, Mohammad Imran Hossain, Nayan Ranjan Singha, Merajuddin Khan, Mostafizur Rahaman, Jamal Uddin and Mohammad A. Hasnat
Catalysts 2025, 15(11), 1012; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15111012 - 28 Oct 2025
Viewed by 2356
Abstract
The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is a crucial process in electrochemical systems, such as fuel cells, as it effectively converts oxygen into water, thereby contributing significantly to sustainable energy generation. In this study, copper oxide (CuO) thin films were deposited onto silver (Ag) [...] Read more.
The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is a crucial process in electrochemical systems, such as fuel cells, as it effectively converts oxygen into water, thereby contributing significantly to sustainable energy generation. In this study, copper oxide (CuO) thin films were deposited onto silver (Ag) substrates using a modified successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method, followed by an investigation of their electrocatalytic performance toward ORR in an alkaline medium. Comprehensive electrochemical characterizations, including cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and open circuit potential (OCP), were employed to evaluate catalyst behaviour. Elemental analysis through energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) confirmed the uniform distribution of CuO, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed a sponge-like surface morphology which potentially enhances catalytic efficiency. Moreover, EIS spectra revealed a lower charge transfer resistance for the CuO/Ag electrode (3.37 kΩ) compared to bare Ag (4.23 kΩ), reflecting improved ORR kinetics. Among different deposition cycles, 15 SILAR cycles yielded the highest current density of 0.8 mA cm−2 at 0.60 V. Kinetic analysis revealed that the reaction is irreversible, with a lower value of Tafel slope (32 mV dec−1) and high transfer coefficient (α = 0.45), indicating a concerted reduction mechanism. The ORR pathway was found to follow a four-electron (4e−) transfer process. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanostructured Catalysts for the Harvesting and Storage of Electrochemical Energy)
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24 pages, 1590 KB  
Article
Synthesis of NiCu–Polymeric Membranes for Electro-Oxidizing Ethylene Glycol Molecules in Alkaline Medium
by Ayman Yousef, R. M. Abdel Hameed, Ibrahim M. Maafa and Ahmed Abutaleb
Catalysts 2025, 15(10), 959; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15100959 - 6 Oct 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1216
Abstract
Binary metallic nickel–copper nanocatalysts were anchored onto a polyvinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene membrane [NiCu/PVdF–HFP] using the electrospinning technique, followed by the chemical reduction of the relevant precursor salts by introducing sodium borohydride to the synthesis mixture. A series of varied Ni:Cu weight % proportions was [...] Read more.
Binary metallic nickel–copper nanocatalysts were anchored onto a polyvinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene membrane [NiCu/PVdF–HFP] using the electrospinning technique, followed by the chemical reduction of the relevant precursor salts by introducing sodium borohydride to the synthesis mixture. A series of varied Ni:Cu weight % proportions was developed in order to optimize the electroactivity of this binary nanocomposite towards the investigated oxidation process. A number of physicochemical tools were used to ascertain the morphology and chemical structure of the formed metallic species on polymeric films. Cyclic voltammetric studies revealed a satisfactory performance of altered NiCu/PVdF–HFP membranes in alkaline solution. Ethylene glycol molecules were successfully electro-oxidized at their surfaces, showing the highest current intensity [564.88 μA cm−2] at the one with Ni:Cu weight ratios of 5:5. The dependence of these metallic membranes’ behavior on the added alcohol concentration to the reaction electrolyte and the adjusted scan rate during the electrochemical measurement was carefully investigated. One hundred repeated scans did not significantly deteriorate the NiCu/PVdF–HFP nanostructures’ durability. Decay percentages of 76.90–87.95% were monitored at their surfaces, supporting the stabilized performance for prolonged periods. A much-decreased Rct value was estimated at Ni5Cu5/PVdF–HFP [392.6 Ohm cm2] as a consequence of the feasibility of the electron transfer step for the electro-catalyzing oxidation process of alcohol molecules. These enhanced study results will hopefully motivate the interested workers to explore the behavior of many binary and ternary combinations of metallic nanomaterials after their deposition onto convenient polymeric films for vital electrochemical reactions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanostructured Catalysts for the Harvesting and Storage of Electrochemical Energy)
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14 pages, 2226 KB  
Article
Engineered NiCo2O4 Spinel Nanostructures for Enhanced Electrocatalytic Performance in Energy Storage and Non-Enzymatic Glucose Detection
by Ambikapathi Nivetha, Srirangarayan Subramanian Rakesh, Prabu P. Chidambaram, Abdullah F. Al Naim, Nazish Parveen, Senthil Alagarswamy, Sajid Ali Ansari and Mir Waqas Alam
Catalysts 2025, 15(9), 899; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15090899 - 17 Sep 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1081
Abstract
The development of multifunctional nanostructured catalysts with high electrochemical activity and stability is crucial for sustainable technologies. Herein, we report the synthesis of CTAB-capped NiCo2O4 (CNC) spinel nanostructures via a facile co-precipitation method, engineered to enhance surface activity and charge [...] Read more.
The development of multifunctional nanostructured catalysts with high electrochemical activity and stability is crucial for sustainable technologies. Herein, we report the synthesis of CTAB-capped NiCo2O4 (CNC) spinel nanostructures via a facile co-precipitation method, engineered to enhance surface activity and charge transport. The optical and structural properties of the nanocomposite were confirmed by UV-Vis and TEM analysis, and the functional group present in the composite was confirmed by FT-IR study. The cubic spinel phase of the CNC was confirmed by XRD analysis. The band gap value was determined to be 2.15 eV, which confirmed the semiconductor nature of the nanocomposite. The photocatalytic degradation efficiency was achieved up to approximately 97% against malachite green. Additionally, CNC demonstrated excellent electrocatalytic performance in non-enzymatic glucose detection, exhibiting high sensitivity and reproducibility across a broad concentration range. Hence, the CNC acted as a potent oxidant for photoelectrochemical reactions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Nanostructured Catalysts for the Harvesting and Storage of Electrochemical Energy)
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