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Plasma Catalysis for Environment and Energy Applications
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Plasma Catalysis for Environment and Energy Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 4686

Special Issue Editor

Dr. He Guo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Ecology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Interests: advanced oxidation technology; cold plasma-catalysis; ozonation-catalysis; photocatalysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Environmental pollution and energy shortage have become two major challenges in the 21st century, and there is an urgent need for effective ways to address them. Compared to existing treatment technologies, the oxidation–reduction performance of plasma can effectively degrade environmental pollutants, while also converting waste such as CO2 and CH4 into energy sources such as CO or alcohols. However, the problem of low energy utilization has always limited its further application. To address this issue, various forms of plasma-coupled catalysis have been proposed, such as plasma/photocatalysis, plasma/O3 catalysis, plasma/Fenton catalysis, and other catalytic methods. These coupling methods can enhance the utilization rate of plasma’s physical and chemical properties from various perspectives, thus ultimately enhancing the efficiency of pollutant removal and the energy yield. To this end, we have established a Special Issue on plasma catalytic pollutant removal and energy to solicit advanced research plans and perspectives; this is in order to provide more insights into the plasma environment and energy applications.

Dr. He Guo
Guest Editor

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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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

  • plasma
  • catalysis
  • contaminants removal
  • energy conversion

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 5269 KiB  
Article
Effect of High Voltage Electrode Material on Methanol Synthesis in a Pulsed Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Reactor
by Robert Karisa Masumbuko, Nobusuke Kobayashi, Akira Suami, Yoshinori Itaya and Baiqiang Zhang
Catalysts 2024, 14(12), 891; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14120891 - 4 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1074
Abstract
Plasma methanol synthesis from captured CO2 and renewable H2 is one of the most promising technologies that can drastically lower the carbon footprint in methanol production, but the associated high energy costs make it less competitive. Herein, we investigated the impact [...] Read more.
Plasma methanol synthesis from captured CO2 and renewable H2 is one of the most promising technologies that can drastically lower the carbon footprint in methanol production, but the associated high energy costs make it less competitive. Herein, we investigated the impact of the high-voltage electrode configuration on methanol formation. The effect of electrode materials Cu, Al, and stainless steel (SS) SUS304 on CO2 hydrogenation to methanol using a temperature-controlled pulsed dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma reactor was examined. The electrode surface area (ESA) was varied from 157 mm2 to 628 mm2 to determine the effect on discharge characteristics and the overall influence of plasma surface reactions on methanol production. The Cu electrode showed superior methanol synthesis performance (0.14 mmol/kWh) which was attributed to its catalytic activity function, while the Al electrode had the least production (0.08 mmol/kWh) ascribed to the excessive oxide coating on its surface, passivating its ability to promote methanol synthesis chemical reactions. In all electrode materials, the highest methanol production was achieved at 157 mm2 ESA at a constant applied voltage. Lastly, the plasma charge concentration per discharge volume was determined to be an important parameter in fine-tuning the DBD reactor to enhance methanol synthesis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasma Catalysis for Environment and Energy Applications)
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20 pages, 8023 KiB  
Article
Reaction-Engineering Approach for Stable Rotating Glow-to-Arc Plasma—Key Principles of Effective Gas-Conversion Processes
by Samuel Jaro Kaufmann, Haripriya Chinnaraj, Johanna Buschmann, Paul Rößner and Kai Peter Birke
Catalysts 2024, 14(12), 864; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14120864 - 26 Nov 2024
Viewed by 750
Abstract
This work presents advancements in a rotating glow-to-arc plasma reactor, designed for stable gas conversion of robust molecules like CO2, N2, and CH4. Plasma-based systems play a critical role in Power-to-X research, offering electrified, sustainable pathways for [...] Read more.
This work presents advancements in a rotating glow-to-arc plasma reactor, designed for stable gas conversion of robust molecules like CO2, N2, and CH4. Plasma-based systems play a critical role in Power-to-X research, offering electrified, sustainable pathways for industrial gas conversion. Here, we scaled the reactor’s power from 200 W to 1.2 kW in a CO2 plasma, which introduced instability due to uplift forces and arc behavior. These were mitigated by integrating silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic foam as a mechanical restriction, significantly enhancing stability by reducing arc movement, confining convection, and balancing volumetric flow within the arc. Using high-speed camera analysis and in situ electronic frequency measurements, we identified dominant frequencies tied to operational parameters, supporting potential in operando monitoring and control. Arc-rotation frequencies from 5 to 50 Hz and higher frequencies (500 to 2700 Hz) related to arc chattering reveal the system’s dynamic response to power and flow changes. Furthermore, refining the specific energy input (SEI) to account for plasma residence time allowed for a more precise calculation of effective SEI, optimizing energy delivery to target molecules. Our findings underscore the reactor’s promise for scalable, efficient gas conversion in sustainable energy applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasma Catalysis for Environment and Energy Applications)
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14 pages, 10407 KiB  
Article
Catalytic Degradation of Bisphenol A in Water by Non-Thermal Plasma Coupled with Persulfate
by Han Zhang, Shuang Yang, Jiayu Cui and He Guo
Catalysts 2024, 14(11), 750; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14110750 - 24 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1312
Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA) has become prevalent in the environment due to its extensive use in industrial materials, thus raising significant concerns regarding its potential toxicity and health effects. In this study, an efficient and eco-friendly non-thermal plasma (NTP) was used to catalyze persulfate [...] Read more.
Bisphenol A (BPA) has become prevalent in the environment due to its extensive use in industrial materials, thus raising significant concerns regarding its potential toxicity and health effects. In this study, an efficient and eco-friendly non-thermal plasma (NTP) was used to catalyze persulfate (PS) for BPA decomposition, and the results showed that the integrated system could effectively degrade BPA. The best performance was attained at a PS to BPA mass ratio of 5:1, with a degradation rate of 91.3% following a 30 min treatment. The degradation rate of BPA increased with increasing input voltage and frequency; conversely, it decreased with an increase in BPA’s initial concentration. Higher BPA degradation rates could be achieved in alkaline environments. Radical quenching experiments revealed that SO4−•, OH•, O2−• and 1O2 were important active substances involved in BPA degradation. Nine intermediate products were identified by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and four degradation pathways were deduced. Additionally, a toxicity analysis of intermediate products was performed. The significant decrease in chemical oxygen demand (COD) during the actual wastewater treatment suggested that the NTP/PS system has good applicability in actual wastewater treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasma Catalysis for Environment and Energy Applications)
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Review

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19 pages, 2403 KiB  
Review
A Review Paper on Non-Thermal Plasma Catalysis for CH4 and CO2 Reforming into Value Added Chemicals and Fuels
by Subash Mohandoss, Harshini Mohan, Natarajan Balasubramaniyan, Amine Aymen Assadi, Lotfi Khezami and Sivachandiran Loganathan
Catalysts 2025, 15(3), 287; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15030287 - 19 Mar 2025
Viewed by 934
Abstract
The global reliance on fossil fuels, particularly natural gas, underscores the urgency of developing sustainable methods for methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) conversion. Methane, which constitutes 95% of natural gas, is a critical feedstock and fuel source. However, [...] Read more.
The global reliance on fossil fuels, particularly natural gas, underscores the urgency of developing sustainable methods for methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) conversion. Methane, which constitutes 95% of natural gas, is a critical feedstock and fuel source. However, its high bond dissociation energy and volatility pose challenges for large-scale utilization and transport. Current research emphasizes the catalytic and plasma-assisted conversion of CH4 and CO2 into value-added products such as methanol, higher hydrocarbons, and organic oxygenates. Advancements in these technologies aim to overcome obstacles such as high operating temperatures, coking, and low product selectivity while addressing methane’s environmental impact, as leakage during extraction and distribution significantly contributes to global warming. Plasma-assisted conversion has emerged as a promising approach, leveraging electron impact processes to generate reactive species that facilitate CH4 and CO2 transformation at near-room temperatures. The integration of catalysts within plasma environments enhances reaction pathways, product yields, and selectivity by modifying plasma properties and surface interactions. This review comprehensively discusses the various methods investigated for CH4 conversion and energy efficiency. We attempt to highlight the recent progress in plasma-assisted catalytic processes for CH4 and CO2 valorization, with a focus on the mechanisms of product formation, catalyst modifications, and their impact on plasma discharge characteristics. The insights gained could pave the way for scalable, energy-efficient solutions to produce sustainable fuels and chemicals, thereby contributing to global efforts in carbon cycle fixation and climate change mitigation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plasma Catalysis for Environment and Energy Applications)
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