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Advances in Catalysis for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Remediation
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Advances in Catalysis for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Remediation

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 6407

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Habib Ullah

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Engineering, Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy, University of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Penryn TR10 9FE, UK
Interests: design and development of energy materials; density functional theory; catalysis; photocatalysis; electrocatalytic OER/HER; organic solar cells; thermal energy storage-phase change materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Muhammad Humayun

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Energy, Water and Environment Lab, College of Humanities and Sciences, Prince Sultan University, Riyadh 11586, Saudi Arabia
Interests: photocatalysis; photo-electrocatalysis; design and fabrication of functional nanomaterials for energy and environmental applications; CO2 conversion; water splitting; wastewater treatment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Sayyar Ali Shah

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212003, China
Interests: synthesis of 2D nanomaterials; interface engineering; electrocatalysis; hydrogen evolution reaction (HER); oxygen evolution reaction (OER); overall water splitting

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue titled "Advances in Catalysis for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Remediation" focuses on the most recent advancements and breakthroughs in the field of catalysis, with a specific emphasis on their practical utilization in the production of sustainable energy and the remediation of environmental issues. This topic emphasizes the crucial significance of catalysts in improving both the efficiency and the durability of energy processes, as well as in reducing environmental pollutants. Important subjects include the advancement of state-of-the-art catalytic materials and techniques, enhancements in the durability and efficiency of catalysts, and the use of catalytic technologies in renewable energy systems such as hydrogen generation, carbon dioxide reduction, oxygen evolution, and nitrogen reduction. Furthermore, the problem pertains to the utilization of catalysis in wastewater treatment. This Special Issue offers an extensive summary of the present trends, challenges, and prospects in the field of catalysis, with a focus on its critical role in attaining a sustainable and environmentally friendly energy future. It will accomplish this by providing a selection of advanced research papers and reviews.

Dr. Habib Ullah
Dr. Muhammad Humayun
Prof. Dr. Sayyar Ali Shah
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 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

  • electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction
  • electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction
  • electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction
  • electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction
  • photocatalytic hydrogen production
  • photocatalytic CO2 conversion
  • photocatalytic wastewater treatment
  • photocatalytic nitrogen fixation

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 5496 KiB  
Article
Boosting PMS Activation Through Fe3S4/WO3: The Essential Impact of WX and SX on Catalyst Activity and Regeneration Fe Active Sites for Efficient Pollutant Removal
by Zhao Wang, Jawad Ali, Ajmal Shahzad, Yanan Chen, Haiqing Ma, Qiao Huang, Lei Xie and Futang Xing
Catalysts 2025, 15(3), 230; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15030230 - 27 Feb 2025
Viewed by 475
Abstract
Fe-based heterogeneous catalytic advanced oxidation processes show great potential for treating wastewater. However, catalyst instability often hinders their practical use, mainly due to the slow regeneration of Fe2+ sites. Herein, we developed a Fe3S4/WO3 catalyst, where the [...] Read more.
Fe-based heterogeneous catalytic advanced oxidation processes show great potential for treating wastewater. However, catalyst instability often hinders their practical use, mainly due to the slow regeneration of Fe2+ sites. Herein, we developed a Fe3S4/WO3 catalyst, where the electron-rich Wx and Sx sites promoted efficient electron transfer, enabling continuous regeneration of Fe2+ active sites on the catalyst surface. The Fe3S4/WO3 catalyst exhibited outstanding degradation efficiency for tetracycline (TC) in the peroxymonosulfate (PMS) system, achieving a 92.5% removal efficiency, significantly higher than its individual components of Fe3S4 (52.8%), WO3 (43.1%), and WS2 (53.2%). Moreover, the Fe3S4/WO3/PMS system demonstrated a broad operational pH range (3.0–9.0), excellent degradation efficiency for various emerging pollutants, minimal interference from background electrolytes and organic matter, and strong stability in real water treatment. Chemical scavenger tests and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis confirmed that the oxidative degradation of TC was driven by multiple reactive species, including SO4•−, •OH, •O2−, and 1O2. This study provides a novel strategy for regulating active sites in Fe-based catalysts to ensure sustained performance, offering a pathway for the rational design of next-generation Fenton-like catalysts for efficient and sustainable micropollutant removal from wastewater. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Catalysis for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Remediation)
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14 pages, 4307 KiB  
Article
PEDOT: PSS Doped Activated Biochar as a Novel Composite Material for Photocatalytic and Efficient Energy Storage Application
by Taymour A. Hamdalla, Saleh A. Al-Ghamdi, Shahd Alfadhli, Abdulrhman M. Alsharari, M. Chiesa and Syed Khasim
Catalysts 2024, 14(9), 630; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14090630 - 18 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1360
Abstract
Herein, we report the synthesis of activated biochar from green algae and the effect of its doping on the structural, photocatalytic, and energy storage properties of PEDOT-PSS. The morphology of pure and doped samples was investigated with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Atomic [...] Read more.
Herein, we report the synthesis of activated biochar from green algae and the effect of its doping on the structural, photocatalytic, and energy storage properties of PEDOT-PSS. The morphology of pure and doped samples was investigated with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). AFM results for PEDOT-PSS@6wt.% of BC indicate that the calculated average peak height, particle size, and roughness were 283 nm, 136 nm, and 71 nm, respectively. Adding biochar to PEDOT-PSS significantly improved the thermal stability of PEDOT-PSS up to 550 °C. The novel photocatalyst PEDOT-PSS@6wt.% BC improved photocatalytic performance by approximately 17% in Methylene Blue (MB) dye removal. The electrochemical performance in terms of supercapacitors for the synthesized samples was investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic charge–discharge (GCD), specific capacitance, stability, and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS). PEDOT-PSS@6wt.% of BC as a novel electrode material in supercapacitors exhibits an initial specific capacitance of 1300 Fg−1. Moreover, the PEDOT-PSS@6wt.% of BC electrode shows excellent stability up to 1000 cycles of operation. The EIS studies suggest the presence of charge transfer resistance. Considering the economical biosynthesis and multifunctional features, the PEDOT-PSS@6wt.% of BC could potentially be used as a photocatalyst to remove organic dyes and supercapacitors in energy storage applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Catalysis for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Remediation)
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11 pages, 4266 KiB  
Communication
The Hydrodeoxygenation of Phenol over Ni-P/Hβ and Ni-P/Ce-β: Modifying the Effects in Dispersity and Acidity
by Lin Ma, Yan Li, Zhiquan Yu, Jie Zou, Yingying Jing and Wei Wang
Catalysts 2024, 14(8), 475; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal14080475 - 25 Jul 2024
Viewed by 826
Abstract
The supported Ni-P catalysts (marked as s-Ni-P/Hβ(3) and s-Ni-P/Ce-β(3)) were prepared by an incipient wetness step-impregnation method, and characterized by XRD, N2 physisorption, TEM, XPS, and NH3-TPD. The catalytic hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) performance was assessed using phenol in water (5.0 wt%) [...] Read more.
The supported Ni-P catalysts (marked as s-Ni-P/Hβ(3) and s-Ni-P/Ce-β(3)) were prepared by an incipient wetness step-impregnation method, and characterized by XRD, N2 physisorption, TEM, XPS, and NH3-TPD. The catalytic hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) performance was assessed using phenol in water (5.0 wt%) or in decalin (1.0 wt%) as the feed. After the introduction of Ce, the conversion of phenol increased due to the high dispersity of the active site. However, compared to s-Ni-P/Hβ(3), the amount of total and strong acid sites of s-Ni-P/Ce-β(3) decreased, restraining the cycloisomerization of cyclohexane to form methyl-cyclopentane. Moreover, the kinetics of the APHDO and OPHDO of phenol catalyzed by s-Ni-P/Hβ(3) and s-Ni-P/Ce-β(3) were investigated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Catalysis for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Remediation)
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Review

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20 pages, 8283 KiB  
Review
Heterogeneous Acid Catalysts for Biodiesel Production: Effect of Physicochemical Properties on Their Activity and Reusability
by Jingfeng Hua, Mimi Ji, Ping Jiao, Zhixian Yin, Qineng Xia, Lingchang Jiang, Jing Zhang and Hu Pan
Catalysts 2025, 15(4), 396; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15040396 - 18 Apr 2025
Viewed by 275
Abstract
Replacing homogeneous acids with heterogeneous acids provides an appealing approach for biodiesel production due to their reusability and easy recycling. The physicochemical properties of heterogeneous acids have a significant influence on catalytic activity and reusability. Herein, the influence of physicochemical properties (i.e., acid [...] Read more.
Replacing homogeneous acids with heterogeneous acids provides an appealing approach for biodiesel production due to their reusability and easy recycling. The physicochemical properties of heterogeneous acids have a significant influence on catalytic activity and reusability. Herein, the influence of physicochemical properties (i.e., acid density, acid strength, acid type, wettability, thermal sensitivity, and magnetism) on catalytic activity and recyclability is elaborately discussed. Characterization techniques for identifying physicochemical properties are elaborated. Methods for regulating physicochemical properties are summarized. Finally, the opportunities and challenges of heterogeneous acid use for biodiesel production are discussed. This review provides theoretical guidance for developing efficient and stable heterogeneous acid catalysts for biodiesel production by adjusting their physicochemical properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Catalysis for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Remediation)
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40 pages, 8059 KiB  
Review
Hydrogen Storage Technology, and Its Challenges: A Review
by Abdisa Sisay Mekonnin, Krzysztof Wacławiak, Muhammad Humayun, Shaowei Zhang and Habib Ullah
Catalysts 2025, 15(3), 260; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15030260 - 7 Mar 2025
Viewed by 2835
Abstract
This paper aims to present an overview of the current state of hydrogen storage methods, and materials, assess the potential benefits and challenges of various storage techniques, and outline future research directions towards achieving effective, economical, safe, and scalable storage solutions. Hydrogen is [...] Read more.
This paper aims to present an overview of the current state of hydrogen storage methods, and materials, assess the potential benefits and challenges of various storage techniques, and outline future research directions towards achieving effective, economical, safe, and scalable storage solutions. Hydrogen is recognized as a clean, secure, and cost-effective green energy carrier with zero emissions at the point of use, offering significant contributions to reaching carbon neutrality goals by 2050. Hydrogen, as an energy vector, bridges the gap between fossil fuels, which produce greenhouse gas emissions, global climate change and negatively impact health, and renewable energy sources, which are often intermittent and lack sustainability. However, widespread acceptance of hydrogen as a fuel source is hindered by storage challenges. Crucially, the development of compact, lightweight, safe, and cost-effective storage solutions is vital for realizing a hydrogen economy. Various storage methods, including compressed gas, liquefied hydrogen, cryo-compressed storage, underground storage, and solid-state storage (material-based), each present unique advantages and challenges. Literature suggests that compressed hydrogen storage holds promise for mobile applications. However, further optimization is desired to resolve concerns such as low volumetric density, safety worries, and cost. Cryo-compressed hydrogen storage also is seen as optimal for storing hydrogen onboard and offers notable benefits for storage due to its combination of benefits from compressed gas and liquefied hydrogen storage, by tackling issues related to slow refueling, boil-off, and high energy consumption. Material-based storage methods offer advantages in terms of energy densities, safety, and weight reduction, but challenges remain in achieving optimal stability and capacities. Both physical and material-based storage approaches are being researched in parallel to meet diverse hydrogen application needs. Currently, no single storage method is universally efficient, robust, and economical for every sector especially for transportation to use hydrogen as a fuel, with each method having its own advantages and limitations. Moreover, future research should focus on developing novel materials and engineering approaches in order to overcome existing limitations, provide higher energy density than compressed hydrogen and cryo-compressed hydrogen storage at 70 MPa, enhance cost-effectiveness, and accelerate the deployment of hydrogen as a clean energy vector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Catalysis for Sustainable Energy and Environmental Remediation)
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