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Design and Synthesis of Nanostructured Catalysts, 2nd Edition
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Design and Synthesis of Nanostructured Catalysts, 2nd Edition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 March 2025) | Viewed by 12913

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Dinesh Kumar

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Guest Editor
Department of Bionanotechnology and Bioconvergence Engineering, Division of Mechanical Design Engineering, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju, Republic of Korea
Interests: plasmonic nanophotonics; heterogeneous catalysis; artificial photosynthesis; renewable energy; biofuels; biomaterials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Following the first successful Special Issue on this topic (available here), we are happy to announce a second edition entitled “Design and Synthesis of Nanostructured Catalysts, 2nd Edition”.

Catalytic studies have been significantly advanced with the emergence of nanotechnology as a key technology of modern times. Nanotechnology has progressed synthetic techniques so that they may control and maintain uniformity in shape, size, morphology, and composition and excel catalytic performance. Nanostructured catalysts of metals, oxides, semiconductors, and other compounds transpire at the interface between heterogeneous and homogeneous catalytic processes and enable for high efficiency, better selectivity, great stability, easier recovery, and recycling. The nanostructured catalysts are the focus of this Special Issue, which aims to cover the synthesis of numerous nanostructured catalysts, such as metal oxides (alkali, alkaline, transition metal oxides), photocatalytic nanomaterials, nanofibrous materials, in addition to applications in CO2 conversion, hydrogen production, fuel cells, composite solid rocket propellants, energy storage, medicines, dye, bio-fuels production, water purification, and many other chemical reactions such as electrocatalytic processes, photocatalytic reactions, coupling reactions, hydrogenation, reduction reactions, oxidation reactions, and others.

Dr. Dinesh Kumar
Guest 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

  • plasmonic nanomaterials
  • metal nano-oxides
  • metal organic frameworks
  • semiconductor nanostructures
  • 2D materials
  • surface engineered catalysts
  • defect engineering
  • electrocatalysts
  • photocatalysts

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 4861 KiB  
Article
Improving the Catalytic Selectivity of Reverse Water–Gas Shift Reaction Catalyzed by Ru/CeO2 Through the Addition of Yttrium Oxide
by Alfredo Solís-García, Karina Portillo-Cortez, David Domínguez, Sergio Fuentes-Moyado, Jorge N. Díaz de León, Trino A. Zepeda and Uriel Caudillo-Flores
Catalysts 2025, 15(4), 301; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15040301 - 23 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 998
Abstract
This study reports the synthesis, characterization, and catalytic performance of a series of catalysts of Ru supported on CeO2-Y2O3 composites (Ru/CeYX; X = 0, 33, 66, and 100 wt.% Y2O3) for CO2 hydrogenation. [...] Read more.
This study reports the synthesis, characterization, and catalytic performance of a series of catalysts of Ru supported on CeO2-Y2O3 composites (Ru/CeYX; X = 0, 33, 66, and 100 wt.% Y2O3) for CO2 hydrogenation. Supported material modification (Y2O3-CeO2), by the Y2O3 incorporation, allowed a change in selectivity from methane to RWGS of the CO2 hydrogenation reaction. This change in selectivity is correlated with the variation in the physicochemical properties caused by Y2O3 addition. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the formation of crystalline fluorite-phase CeO2 and α-Y2O3. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) elemental mapping revealed the formation of a homogeneous CeO2-Y2O3 nanocomposite. As the Y2O3 content increased, the specific surface area, measured by BET, showed a decreasing trend from 106.3 to 51.7 m2 g−1. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of Ce3d indicated a similar Ce3+/Ce4+ ratio across all CeO2-containing materials, while the O1s spectra showed a reduction in oxygen vacancies with increasing Y2O3 content, which is attributed to the decreased surface area upon composite formation. Catalytically, the addition of Y2O3 influenced both conversion and selectivity. CO2 conversion decreased with increasing Y2O3 content, with the lowest conversion observed for Ru/CeY100. Regarding selectivity, methane was the dominant product for Ru/CeY0 (pure CeO2), while CO was the main product for Ru/CeY33, Ru/CeY66, and Ru/CeY100, indicating a shift towards the reverse water–gas shift (RWGS) reaction. The highest RWGS reaction rate was observed with the Ru/CeY33 catalyst under all tested conditions. The observed differences in conversion and selectivity are attributed to a reduction in active sites due to the decrease in surface area and oxygen vacancies, both of which are important for CO2 adsorption. In order to verify the surface species catalytically active for RWGS, the samples were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy under reaction conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Synthesis of Nanostructured Catalysts, 2nd Edition)
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17 pages, 2578 KiB  
Article
Sulfur-Doped CoFe/NF Catalysts for High-Efficiency Electrochemical Urea Oxidation and Hydrogen Production: Structure Optimization and Performance Enhancement
by Sirong Li, Lang Yao, Zhenlong Wang, Zhonghe Xu and Xuechun Xiao
Catalysts 2025, 15(3), 285; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15030285 - 18 Mar 2025
Viewed by 818
Abstract
In this study, a sulfur-doped cobalt–iron catalyst (CoFeS/NF) was synthesized on a nickel foam (NF) substrate via a facile one-step electrodeposition method, and its performance in urea electrolysis for hydrogen production was systematically investigated. Sulfur doping induced significant morphology optimization, forming a highly [...] Read more.
In this study, a sulfur-doped cobalt–iron catalyst (CoFeS/NF) was synthesized on a nickel foam (NF) substrate via a facile one-step electrodeposition method, and its performance in urea electrolysis for hydrogen production was systematically investigated. Sulfur doping induced significant morphology optimization, forming a highly dispersed nanosheet structure, which enhanced the specific surface area increase by 1.9 times compared with the undoped sample, exposing abundant active sites. Meanwhile, the introduction of sulfur facilitated electron redistribution at the surface modulated the valence states of nickel and cobalt, promoted the formation of high-valence Ni3+/Co3+, optimized the adsorption energy of the reaction intermediates, and reduced the charge transfer resistance. Electrochemical evaluations revealed that CoFeS/NF achieves a current density of 10 mA cm−2 at a remarkably low potential of 1.18 V for the urea oxidation reaction (UOR), outperforming both the undoped catalyst (1.24 V) and commercial RuO2 (1.35 V). In addition, the catalyst also exhibited excellent catalytic activity and long-term stability in the total urea decomposition process, which was attributed to the amorphous structure and the synergistic enhancement of corrosion resistance by sulfur doping. This study provides a new idea for the application of sulfur doping strategy in the design of multifunctional electrocatalysts, which promotes the coupled development of urea wastewater treatment and efficient hydrogen production technology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Synthesis of Nanostructured Catalysts, 2nd Edition)
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22 pages, 4715 KiB  
Article
A Hybrid Photo-Catalytic Approach Utilizing Oleic Acid-Capped ZnO Nanoparticles for the Treatment of Wastewater Containing Reactive Dyes
by Zakia H. Alhashem, Ashraf H. Farha, Shrouq H. Aleithan, Shehab A. Mansour and Maha A. Tony
Catalysts 2024, 14(12), 934; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14120934 - 18 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 846
Abstract
In pursuit of overcoming Fenton oxidation limitations in wastewater treatment, an introduction of a heterogeneous photocatalyst was developed. In this regard, the current work introduces ZnO nanocrystals that were successfully prepared via a thermal decomposition technique and then capped with oleic acid (OA). [...] Read more.
In pursuit of overcoming Fenton oxidation limitations in wastewater treatment, an introduction of a heterogeneous photocatalyst was developed. In this regard, the current work introduces ZnO nanocrystals that were successfully prepared via a thermal decomposition technique and then capped with oleic acid (OA). The synthesized ZnO-OA and the pristine ZnO were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Then, the study introduces the application of such materials in advanced oxidation processes, i.e., a Fenton reaction to treat dye-containing wastewater. Synthetic wastewater that was prepared using Reactive Blue 4 (RB4) was used as a simulated textile wastewater effluent. Fenton’s oxidation was applied, and the system parameters were assessed using the modified Fenton’s system. The synthesized samples of ZnO were characterized by a recognized wurtzite hexagonal structure. The surface modification of ZnO with oleic acid (OA) resulted in an increase in crystallite size, lattice parameters, and cell volume. These modifications were linked to the efficient capping of ZnO nanoparticles by OA, which further improved the dispersion of the nanoparticles, as demonstrated through SEM imaging. The optimum conditions of ZnO- and ZnO-OA-synthesized modified Fenton composites showed 400 mg/L and 40 mg/L for H2O2 and the catalyst, respectively, at pH 3.0, and within 90 min under UV irradiation the maximal dye oxidation reached 93%. The catalytic performance at its optimal circumstances was in accordance with a pseudo-second-order kinetics model for both ZnO-OA- and the pristine ZnO-based Fenton’s systems. The thermodynamic parameters, including the enthalpy (ΔH′), the entropy (ΔS′), and Gibbs free energy (ΔG′) of activations, were also checked, and their values settled that both ZnO and ZnO-OA Fenton systems are non-spontaneous in nature. Furthermore, the reaction signified for processing at a low energy barrier condition (10.38 and 31.38 kJ/mol for ZnO-OA- and the pristine ZnO-based Fenton reactions, respectively). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Synthesis of Nanostructured Catalysts, 2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 7075 KiB  
Article
Synthesis of Bimetallic Pd/Pt Truncated Nanocubes and Their Catalytic Performance in Selective Hydrogenation of Acetophenone
by Jingjing Bai, Xinkai Yang, Jianyu Chen, Bin Yue, Xueying Chen and Heyong He
Catalysts 2024, 14(12), 900; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14120900 - 8 Dec 2024
Viewed by 956
Abstract
A series of bimetallic Pd/Pt truncated nanocube catalysts with similar morphologies and particle sizes but different platinum contents were successfully synthesized using a colloidal method without using any capping agents. Their hydrogenation properties were systematically studied and compared with their monometallic Pd or [...] Read more.
A series of bimetallic Pd/Pt truncated nanocube catalysts with similar morphologies and particle sizes but different platinum contents were successfully synthesized using a colloidal method without using any capping agents. Their hydrogenation properties were systematically studied and compared with their monometallic Pd or Pt nanocrystal counterparts. The results of EDX-mapping and line scanning show that platinum was relatively uniformly distributed on the surface of the Pd/Pt bimetallic nanocrystals and was not selectively deposited at the corners of the nanocrystals. The results of the selective hydrogenation of acetophenone demonstrate that the hydrogenation rate and the carbonyl selectivity of bimetallic Pd/Pt truncated nanocube catalysts are generally much higher than those of their monometallic Pd or Pt nanocrystal counterparts. It was found that the electronic interaction between palladium and platinum in the bimetallic Pd/Pt truncated nanocube catalysts and the corresponding hydrogenation activity in the selective hydrogenation of acetophenone are closely related to the molar ratio between platinum and palladium and the thickness of the platinum layer in the bimetallic Pd/Pt truncated nanocube catalyst. With an increase in the Pt/Pd molar ratio in the bimetallic Pd/Pt truncated nanocube catalysts, the activity and carbonyl selectivity in the acetophenone hydrogenation reaction increase first, reach a maximum when the molar ratio of Pt/Pd is 0.02 and the theoretical thickness of Pt is 1.3 atomic layers, and then decrease with a further increase in the Pt/Pd ratio. The hydrogenation rate of acetophenone on the Pd/Pt0.02 catalyst reaches 1.07 × 103 mmol·h−1·gcat.−1, which is 79 and 75 times larger than that of the monometallic Pd and Pt nanocrystal catalysts, respectively. The maximum yield of the target product 1-phenylethanol on the Pd/Pt0.02 truncated nanocube catalyst reaches 97.2%, which is 6.6% and 16.7% higher than that of the monometallic Pd and Pt nanocrystal catalysts, respectively. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Synthesis of Nanostructured Catalysts, 2nd Edition)
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12 pages, 1981 KiB  
Article
Study on the Catalytic Activity and Selectivity of Manganese Dioxide-Modified Nickel–Iron-Based Hydroxide Electrodes for Initiating the Oxygen Evolution Reaction in Natural Seawater
by Fangfang Liu, Miaomiao Fan, Haofeng Yan, Zheng Wang, Jimei Song, Hui Wang and Jianwei Ren
Catalysts 2024, 14(8), 502; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14080502 - 2 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1258
Abstract
Transition metal oxides, particularly NiFe(OH)2, are recognized for their high oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity and structural stability. However, their performance in natural seawater electrolysis remains insufficiently studied. Manganese dioxide (MnO2), which is known for its multiple crystal phases [...] Read more.
Transition metal oxides, particularly NiFe(OH)2, are recognized for their high oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity and structural stability. However, their performance in natural seawater electrolysis remains insufficiently studied. Manganese dioxide (MnO2), which is known for its multiple crystal phases and high OER selectivity, can be incorporated to enhance the catalytic properties. In this study, the OER catalytic performance of carbon cloth-supported manganese dioxide-modified nickel–iron bimetallic hydroxide (MnO2-NiFe-LDH/CC) electrodes was explored in both alkaline and natural seawater. Electrochemical tests demonstrated that the MnO2-NiFe-LDH/CC electrode achieved overpotentials of 284 mV and 363 mV at current densities of 10 mA·cm−2 and 100 mA·cm−2, respectively, with a Tafel slope of 68.6 mV·dec−1 in alkaline seawater. Most importantly, the prepared MnO2-NiFe-LDH/CC electrode maintained stable OER performance over 120 h of testing. In natural seawater, the MnO2-NiFe-LDH/CC electrode outperformed the NiFe-LDH/CC electrode by exhibiting an oxygen evolution selectivity of 61.1%. This study highlights the potential of MnO2-modified nickel–iron-based materials for efficient and stable OER in seawater electrolysis, which offers a promising approach for sustainable hydrogen production in coastal desert regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Synthesis of Nanostructured Catalysts, 2nd Edition)
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18 pages, 10039 KiB  
Article
Engineering the Integration of Titanium and Nickel into Zinc Oxide Nanocomposites through Nanolayered Structures and Nanohybrids to Design Effective Photocatalysts for Purifying Water from Industrial Pollutants
by Osama Saber, Aya Osama, Nagih M. Shaalan and Mostafa Osama
Catalysts 2024, 14(6), 340; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14060340 - 24 May 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1316
Abstract
Water pollution is one of the main challenges currently facing scientists around the world because of the rapid growth in industrial activities. On this basis, 2D nanolayered and nanohybrid structures, which are based on a ternary system of nickel–titanium–zinc, are considered favorable sources [...] Read more.
Water pollution is one of the main challenges currently facing scientists around the world because of the rapid growth in industrial activities. On this basis, 2D nanolayered and nanohybrid structures, which are based on a ternary system of nickel–titanium–zinc, are considered favorable sources for designing effective nanocomposites for the photocatalytic degradation of industrial pollutants in a short period of time. These nanocomposites were designed by modifying two-dimensional nanolayers to produce a three-dimensional porous structure of multi-doped Ni/Ti-ZnO nanocomposites. Additionally, another additive was produced by constructing nanohybrids of nickel–titanium–zinc combined with a series of hydrocarbons (n-capric acid, myristic acid, stearic acid, suberic acid, and sebacic acid). Energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and thermal analyses confirmed the growth of the nanolayered and nanohybrid materials in addition to the production of nanocomposites. The positive role of the dopants (nickel and titanium) in producing an effective photocatalyst was observed through a significant narrowing of the band gap of zinc oxide to 3.05–3.10 eV. Additionally, the high photocatalytic activity of this nanocomposite enabled the complete removal of colored dye from water after 25 min of UV radiation. In conclusion, this study proposes an unconventional approach for designing new optical nanocomposites for purifying water. Additionally, it suggests a novel supporting method for designing new kinds of nanohybrids based on multi-metals and organic acids. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Synthesis of Nanostructured Catalysts, 2nd Edition)
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16 pages, 5621 KiB  
Article
Catalytic Reductive Degradation of 4-Nitrophenol and Methyl orange by Novel Cobalt Oxide Nanocomposites
by Hawra A. Bukhamsin, Hassan H. Hammud, Chawki Awada and Thirumurugan Prakasam
Catalysts 2024, 14(1), 89; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14010089 - 21 Jan 2024
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3134
Abstract
Cobalt oxide nanocomposites were synthesized and used for the catalytic degradation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) and methyl orange (MO). Cobalt oxide nanocomposites PyroHAB9 was prepared by heating cobalt acetylacetonate complex HAB9 at 300 °C, while PyroHAB19 was prepared by heating cobalt acetylacetonate–carboxymethyl cellulose complex [...] Read more.
Cobalt oxide nanocomposites were synthesized and used for the catalytic degradation of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) and methyl orange (MO). Cobalt oxide nanocomposites PyroHAB9 was prepared by heating cobalt acetylacetonate complex HAB9 at 300 °C, while PyroHAB19 was prepared by heating cobalt acetylacetonate–carboxymethyl cellulose complex at 300 °C. FTIR indicated the presence of Co3O4 species, while Raman spectrum indicated the presence of graphite in PyroHAB19. The SEM morphology of nanocomposites exhibited irregular spherical shape nanoparticles with sizes ranging between 20 to 60 nm. Additionally, nanowires were also seen in HAB19. Also, 2Ɵ peaks in PXRD revealed the formation of Co3O4 in HAB19. Cyclic voltammetry indicated enhanced electrochemical redox activity of HAB19. The structures of the nanocomposites were related to their catalytic activities. The turnover frequency (TOF) values of the catalytic reduction of p-nitrophenol (P-NP) and methyl orange (MO) were greater for HAB19 compared to HAB9 nano-catalysts. Also, the TOF values of the catalytic reduction of MO were greater than that of P-NP by both nano-catalysts. It is obvious that the rate constants of catalytic reductions for MO by metal oxide nanocomposites were greater than the corresponding rate constants for PNP. The highest rate constant was found for PyroHAB19 in MO reduction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Synthesis of Nanostructured Catalysts, 2nd Edition)
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18 pages, 9874 KiB  
Article
Tuning the Magnetic and Catalytic Properties of Manganese Ferrite through Zn2+ Doping: Gas Phase Oxidation of Octanol
by Mehnaz Bibi, Muhammad Sadiq, Moustafa A. Rizk, Raiedhah A. Alsaiari, Zaffar Iqbal and Zahid Ali
Catalysts 2023, 13(12), 1473; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal13121473 - 27 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1926
Abstract
Spinel ferrites, ZnFe2O4, MnFe2O4, and ZnMnFe2O4, were synthesized using the sol–gel method and thoroughly investigated for their potential as catalytic and magnetic materials. Experiments unveiled that ZnMnFe2O4 exhibited [...] Read more.
Spinel ferrites, ZnFe2O4, MnFe2O4, and ZnMnFe2O4, were synthesized using the sol–gel method and thoroughly investigated for their potential as catalytic and magnetic materials. Experiments unveiled that ZnMnFe2O4 exhibited excellent catalytic and magnetic properties, whereas the Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations provided insight into the excellent performance of ZnMnFe2O4 compared with ZnFe2O4 and MnFe2O4. The catalytic efficiencies of the synthesized spinel ferrites were evaluated against a model reaction, i.e., the gas-phase oxidation of octanol to a corresponding aldehyde, utilizing molecular oxygen as an oxidant. The results indicated that the order of catalytic activity was ZnMnFe2O4 > MnFe2O4 > ZnFe2O4. The reaction was found to follow Langmuir Hinshelwood’s mechanism for dissociative adsorption of molecular oxygen. Owing to their superb catalytic and magnetic properties, mixed ferrites can be extended to a variety of organic transformation reactions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Design and Synthesis of Nanostructured Catalysts, 2nd Edition)
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