Olefin Polymerization Catalysis and Polyolefin Catalysts

Dear Colleagues,

Polyolefin materials, including polyethylene, polypropylene, and their copolymers, constitute the backbone of modern industrial and consumer applications, serving critical roles in packaging, automotive, construction, healthcare, and advanced technologies. At the heart of polyolefin innovation lies catalysis—a field that directly governs polymer microstructures, material performance, and process efficiency. With the global polyolefin market exceeding hundreds of millions of tons annually, the development of next-generation catalysts remains crucial to addressing sustainability challenges, enhancing material properties, and enabling various novel applications. 

To highlight recent advances in this dynamic field, Catalysts is pleased to announce a Topical Collection on “Olefin Polymerization Catalysis and Polyolefin Catalysts”. This Topical Collection will provide a platform for researchers from both academia and industry to demonstrate breakthroughs in catalyst design, mechanistic insights, and computational advancements that are reshaping the polyolefin industry. We invite original research articles, reviews, and perspectives covering, but not limited to, the following themes: 

1. Traditional Ziegler–Natta Titanium-Based Catalysts:
   • Advances in catalyst structure–activity relationships. 
   • Strategies for improving stereoselectivity and productivity. 
2. Traditional Chromium-Based Catalysts:
   • Phillips catalysts for high-density polyethylene (HDPE). 
   • S-2 organochromium catalysts and their industrial applications. 
3. Metallocene Catalysts:
   • Homogeneous and supported metallocene systems. 
   • Tuning polymer properties via ligand modification. 
4. Late Transition Metal Catalysts:
   • Nickel, iron, and cobalt catalysts for olefin polymerization. 
   • Copolymerization of olefins with polar monomers. 
5. Non-Metallocene Catalysts:
   • Early and late transition metal complexes (e.g., phenoxy-imine, pyridyl-amido). 
   • Main-group metal catalysts for polyolefin synthesis. 
6. Olefin Oligomerization Catalysts:
   • Selective catalysts for ethylene/propylene dimerization, trimerization, and tetramerization. 
   • Synthesis of α-olefins for applications in lubricants, plasticizers, and fine chemicals. 
7. Molecular Simulation of Olefin Polymerization Mechanisms:
   • DFT, MD, or QM/MM studies on active-site dynamics. 
   • Modeling chain propagation, termination, and stereoregulation. 
8. AI-Driven Polyolefin Catalyst Design:
   • Machine learning for predicting catalyst performance. 
   • High-throughput screening and data-driven discovery of novel catalysts. 

This Topical Collection will serve as a reference for academia and industry, fostering dialogue between fundamental research and industrial practice. Contributions will highlight innovations that bridge catalyst science with the demands of circular economies, energy efficiency, and high-performance materials.

We look forward to your groundbreaking contributions.

Prof. Dr. Boping Liu
Collection 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 collection 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.

• olefin polymerization
• olefin oligomerization
• polyolefin catalysts
• Ziegler–Natta catalysts
• metallocene catalysts