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Catalysts
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Catalysis and Sustainable Green Chemistry
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Catalysis and Sustainable Green Chemistry

A special issue of Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 3262

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Raffaella Mancuso

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Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Calabria, Via Pietro Bucci 12/C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
Interests: carbonylation; catalysis; heterocycles; materials; organic synthesis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Gonzalo de Gonzalo

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Guest Editor
Departamento de Química Orgánica, Universidad de Sevilla, 41014 Sevilla, Spain
Interests: biocatalysis; catalytic reactions; sustainable chemistry; pharmaceutical synthesis; deep eutectic solvents
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Maria A. Goula

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Guest Editor
Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, University of Western Macedonia (UOWM), Active Urban Planning Zone (ZEP), 50100 Kozani, Greece
Interests: catalytic processes; biomass utilization; hydrogen production; e-fuels
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Catalysis lies at the heart of sustainable green chemistry, providing innovative pathways to reduce waste, enhance energy efficiency, and create cleaner chemical processes. This Special Issue is dedicated to advancing this critical field, showcasing cutting-edge research that addresses global challenges in environmental protection, renewable energy, and the synthesis of value-added products through sustainable means.

This collection is proudly launched in conjunction with the 4th International Electronic Conference on Catalysis Sciences (https://sciforum.net/event/ECCS2026, ECCS 2026), which will be held online from 22 to 24 September 2026. The conference serves as a dynamic platform for the global catalysis community to exchange pioneering ideas and foster collaboration.

While this issue is inspired by and welcomes contributions from participants of ECCS 2026, we also warmly encourage submissions from all researchers working in catalysis and Green Chemistry who are not attending the conference. Our goal is to compile a comprehensive, impactful volume that reflects the diverse, forward-thinking work driving the development of sustainable chemical technologies for a greener future.

Prof. Dr. Raffaella Mancuso
Prof. Dr. Gonzalo de Gonzalo
Prof. Dr. Maria A. Goula
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

  • catalysts
  • environmental catalysis
  • photocatalysis
  • electrocatalysis
  • biocatalysis
  • biomass catalysis
  • industrial catalysis
  • organic catalysis
  • catalytic reaction
  • sustainable energy

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 12177 KB  
Article
Tailoring Rhenium to Rhenium Carbide Phases Gradient Composites by High Pressure and High Temperature: Evaluation of Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution in Acidic and Alkaline Environments
by Li Bai, Junlong Zhao, Yunyu Ning, Jiawen Lv, Rui Bao, Pinwen Zhu, Yanli Chen, Huilian Liu and Qiang Tao
Catalysts 2026, 16(2), 186; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal16020186 - 15 Feb 2026
Viewed by 532
Abstract
The intrinsic electronic and structural properties of the transition metal rhenium (Re) endow it with substantial application potential in electrocatalysis. However, the high cost of Re requires the development of Re-based materials to reduce cost and optimize the performance at the same time. [...] Read more.
The intrinsic electronic and structural properties of the transition metal rhenium (Re) endow it with substantial application potential in electrocatalysis. However, the high cost of Re requires the development of Re-based materials to reduce cost and optimize the performance at the same time. Herein, a one-step high-pressure and high-temperature (HPHT) synthetic strategy is proposed for fabricating Re-C phase gradient composites, presenting a facile and efficient pathway to develop high-performance hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts. By studying the structural evolution of Re toward ReC and uncovering its intrinsic mechanism, the regulation of the material’s electrocatalytic activity was successfully realized. Experimental results confirm that HPHT conditions of 5 GPa and 1400 °C effectively induce the formation of multiple crystalline phases of Re-C solid solution and ReC in the Re-C composite. These phases have coherent phase boundaries and form the phase gradient composites. Compared with element Re, the synergistic effect of phase gradient composites broadens the electronic state range by increasing electron transfer from Re to C in ReC (increasing the binding energy) and reduces the binding energy in Re-C solid solution. The broad electronic states range in the phase gradient composites exhibits optimal HER overpotentials of 150 mV (acidic electrolyte) and 166 mV (alkaline electrolyte) at 10 mA cm−2. These findings provide a promising strategy to boost catalysts’ electrocatalytic performance via constructing phase gradient composites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalysis and Sustainable Green Chemistry)
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18 pages, 5550 KB  
Article
Development of a Peptide-Mediated Multienzyme Assembly System in Bacillus licheniformis: Screening, Characterization, and Application in Dual-Enzyme Cascade Reaction
by Yanling Wang, Junbing Tao, Fengxu Xiao, Guiyang Shi and Youran Li
Catalysts 2026, 16(2), 153; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal16020153 - 3 Feb 2026
Viewed by 518
Abstract
As synthetic biology advances, prokaryotic microorganisms have become critical platforms for heterologous biosynthesis in cell factory applications. However, conventional free enzyme systems encounter substantial challenges, including inefficient intermediate transfer, toxic intermediate accumulation, and vulnerability to temperature and pH fluctuations. Enzyme complex catalytic systems [...] Read more.
As synthetic biology advances, prokaryotic microorganisms have become critical platforms for heterologous biosynthesis in cell factory applications. However, conventional free enzyme systems encounter substantial challenges, including inefficient intermediate transfer, toxic intermediate accumulation, and vulnerability to temperature and pH fluctuations. Enzyme complex catalytic systems offer promising solutions to these limitations. Bacillus licheniformis, a Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) host with exceptional protein secretion capacity, represents an ideal chassis for enzyme complex construction. This study developed a peptide-mediated platform in B. licheniformis to enable enzyme complex self-assembly and evaluated its effects on metabolic pathway performance. Five peptide elements were screened through fusion with enhanced orange/green fluorescent proteins (eOFP/eGFP) and transglutaminase (TGase). Effective peptide pairs were identified by measuring fluorescence intensity, visualizing complex formation via laser confocal microscopy, and assessing TGase activity. Subsequently, recombinant strains expressing peptide-fused key metabolic enzymes (gadTt and KdgA) were constructed for whole-cell biotransformation using gluconate as substrate to investigate the impact of peptide-mediated enzyme complexes on pyruvate synthesis. In the fluorescent protein system, P18/D18—amphipathic peptides that drive enzyme self-assembly via intermolecular hydrophobic interactions—increased extracellular fluorescence intensity of eOFP and eGFP by 31.11% and 25.21%, respectively. The D18 peptide significantly elevated TGase activity by enhancing structural stability to over 1.3-fold that of the control. For pyruvate synthesis, the peptide-mediated enzyme complex exhibited remarkable advantages in substrate conversion rate (up to 53.08%) and thermostability, confirming the platform’s ability to enhance substrate channeling despite no optimization for absolute yield. This study established a novel peptide-mediated multienzyme self-assembly platform in B. licheniformis, providing a valuable strategy for artificial metabolic channel design in synthetic biology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalysis and Sustainable Green Chemistry)
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23 pages, 2481 KB  
Article
Functional Characterization and Metabolic Engineering of Key Genes in L-Cysteine Biosynthesis in Bacillus licheniformis
by Jing Yan, Junbing Tao, Fengxu Xiao, Guiyang Shi and Youran Li
Catalysts 2026, 16(2), 129; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal16020129 - 29 Jan 2026
Viewed by 378
Abstract
This study systematically characterized the L-cysteine biosynthetic pathway in Bacillus licheniformis and demonstrated that exogenous serine supplementation significantly upregulated the expression of pathway-associated genes, confirming serine as the primary precursor driving L-cysteine synthesis. Through targeted gene deletions, we generated knockout strains BL2ΔglyA [...] Read more.
This study systematically characterized the L-cysteine biosynthetic pathway in Bacillus licheniformis and demonstrated that exogenous serine supplementation significantly upregulated the expression of pathway-associated genes, confirming serine as the primary precursor driving L-cysteine synthesis. Through targeted gene deletions, we generated knockout strains BL2ΔglyA, BL2ΔsdaAA, BL2ΔmetC, BL2Δ2, and BL2Δ3 to minimize precursor diversion and product degradation. Combinatorial overexpression of the feedback-resistant mutant cysEf and the transporter eamA yielded an engineered strain achieving 1.075 g/L L-cysteine in shake-flask fermentation with an 18.69% molar conversion yield. These findings highlight the potential of B. licheniformis as a platform for sulfur metabolic engineering and provide a sustainable fermentation strategy to replace traditional high-pollution hydrolysis-based L-cysteine production. Additionally, this work reveals fundamental differences in sulfur metabolism networks between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, elucidating microbial metabolic diversity and the cross-regulatory mechanisms linking sulfur, carbon, and nitrogen metabolism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalysis and Sustainable Green Chemistry)
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20 pages, 4761 KB  
Article
High-Performance CoxNiy@NC/SiO2 Catalysts Derived from ZIF-67 for Enhanced Hydrogenation of 1-Nitronaphthalene
by Xuedong Lan, Ming Zhong, Weidi Dai and Pingle Liu
Catalysts 2026, 16(1), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal16010093 - 16 Jan 2026
Viewed by 582
Abstract
A series of silica-supported, nitrogen-doped carbon-encapsulated cobalt–nickel alloy catalysts (CoxNiy@NC/SiO2) was successfully synthesized and systematically evaluated for the liquid-phase hydrogenation of 1-nitronaphthalene to 1-naphthylamine. Physicochemical characterization confirmed that the incorporation of nickel promotes the formation of Co–Ni [...] Read more.
A series of silica-supported, nitrogen-doped carbon-encapsulated cobalt–nickel alloy catalysts (CoxNiy@NC/SiO2) was successfully synthesized and systematically evaluated for the liquid-phase hydrogenation of 1-nitronaphthalene to 1-naphthylamine. Physicochemical characterization confirmed that the incorporation of nickel promotes the formation of Co–Ni alloys and modulates the electronic structure of the catalysts. The catalytic performance was found to be highly sensitive to the Co/Ni ratio, with Co2Ni1@NC/SiO2 exhibiting the most outstanding activity. Under optimized reaction conditions (90 °C, 0.6 MPa H2, 5.5 h), both the conversion of 1-nitronaphthalene and the selectivity toward 1-naphthylamine reached approximately 99%. The catalyst also demonstrated excellent stability and recyclability, attributed to the protective nitrogen-doped carbon shell and the synergistic interaction between the Co–Ni alloy and M–Nx active sites. This work provides a new strategy for designing efficient and robust non-noble-metal catalysts for hydrogenation reactions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalysis and Sustainable Green Chemistry)
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33 pages, 4501 KB  
Review
Water–Energy–Carbon Nexus: Biochar-Based Catalysts via Waste Valorization for Sustainable Catalysis
by Hossam A. Nabwey and Maha A. Tony
Catalysts 2026, 16(3), 267; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal16030267 - 15 Mar 2026
Viewed by 436
Abstract
The water–energy–carbon (WEC) nexus provides a systems framework for minimizing trade-offs among water security, energy reliability, and carbon mitigation. Within this framework, waste-derived biochar catalysts offer a circular pathway that simultaneously valorizes residues, reduces process energy demand, and supports carbon management through stable [...] Read more.
The water–energy–carbon (WEC) nexus provides a systems framework for minimizing trade-offs among water security, energy reliability, and carbon mitigation. Within this framework, waste-derived biochar catalysts offer a circular pathway that simultaneously valorizes residues, reduces process energy demand, and supports carbon management through stable carbon storage and catalytic co-benefits. This review consolidates recent advances in biochar-based catalysts engineered from agricultural, industrial, municipal, and sludge-derived wastes, highlighting how feedstock selection and thermochemical processing, namely pyrolysis, hydrothermal carbonization (HTC), and torrefaction, as well as activation and post-modification (heteroatom doping and metal/metal-oxide incorporation) govern structure–property–performance relationships. The synthesized catalysts have been widely applied in water and wastewater treatment, including adsorption–advanced oxidation process (AOP) hybrids, Fenton-like systems, peroxydisulfate/persulfate (PS) and peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation, photocatalysis, and the removal of emerging contaminants. They have also demonstrated strong potential in energy conversion processes such as the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), oxygen reduction and evolution reactions (ORR/OER), biomass reforming, and carbon dioxide (CO2) conversion. In addition, these materials contribute to carbon management through sequestration pathways, avoided emissions, and life cycle assessment (LCA)-based sustainability evaluations. Finally, we propose a WEC-aligned design roadmap integrating techno-economic analysis (TEA), LCA, and scale-up considerations to guide next-generation biochar catalysts toward robust performance in real matrices and deployment-ready systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalysis and Sustainable Green Chemistry)
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32 pages, 1232 KB  
Review
Organic Framework-Based Nanozymes: Design, Property, and Application
by Feng Wang, Beidian Li, Mingtong Wang, Shuhao Huo, Bin Zou, Anzhou Ma, Guoqiang Zhuang and Ling Xu
Catalysts 2026, 16(3), 223; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal16030223 - 2 Mar 2026
Viewed by 455
Abstract
Although natural enzymes have a high catalytic activity as biocatalysts, they still face many limitations in practical applications, including high preparation and purification costs, poor environmental stability, and difficulties in recovery and reuse. Nanozymes are a class of synthetic nanomaterials with enzymatic catalytic [...] Read more.
Although natural enzymes have a high catalytic activity as biocatalysts, they still face many limitations in practical applications, including high preparation and purification costs, poor environmental stability, and difficulties in recovery and reuse. Nanozymes are a class of synthetic nanomaterials with enzymatic catalytic properties. They are regarded as promising alternatives to natural enzymes due to their low cost, good stability, adjustable catalytic activity, and easy surface modification. Among many nanozyme materials, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have attracted much attention due to their high specific surface area, adjustable porosity, and stable framework structure. This review summarizes the latest research progress of nanozymes based on MOFs and COFs and reveals the catalytic properties of different enzymes (oxidase, peroxidase, catalase, glucose oxidase, superoxide dismutase, hydrolase) simulated by them. In addition, their potential applications in sensors and medical fields are discussed. Finally, this review discusses the current challenges and developments of organic framework-based nanozymes and provides suggestions for future research directions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Catalysis and Sustainable Green Chemistry)
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