Recent Advances in Photocatalytic Material
A special issue of Crystals (ISSN 2073-4352). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials for Energy Applications".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2026 | Viewed by 13
Special Issue Editors
Interests: photocatalysis; photocatalytic material; reduction of CO2; water splitting; photo-responsive material; photochromic
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Photocatalysis has emerged as a pivotal research frontier in materials science and engineering, driven by its potential to harness solar energy for sustainable applications. Distinguished by the exclusive use of sunlight as a green energy source, photocatalytic systems offer promising solutions for energy conversion and environmental remediation. Recent advances in photocatalyst materials encompass the discovery of novel materials, the development of innovative synthetic methodologies, and the design of architecture informed by emerging theoretical frameworks, alongside progress in translating laboratory-scale findings into industrial demonstrations.
Despite these achievements, several formidable challenges hinder widespread implementation. Key limitations include restricted utilization of the solar spectrum, rapid electron–hole recombination, insufficient long-term stability, and difficulties in scaling laboratory successes to industrial systems. High synthesis costs and complex fabrication processes further impede commercialization. Addressing efficiency, durability, and economic feasibility remains essential for practical deployment. Current research strategies aim to overcome these barriers through bandgap engineering to extend visible-light absorption, heterojunction and nanostructured designs to enhance charge separation, protective surface modifications to improve stability, and scalable reactor configurations for industrial use. Emphasis on earth-abundant materials and environmentally benign synthesis methods enhances cost-effectiveness, moving photocatalysis closer to practical, sustainable applications. Collectively, these advances define the evolving research frontiers of photocatalyst development.
Dr. Yingchun Li
Dr. Gururaj M. Neelgund
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. Crystals 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 2100 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
- photocatalyst
- photocatalysis
- photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide
- photocatalytic splitting water
- photocatalytic degradation
- photocatalytic self-cleaning
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
