Nanostructured Materials and Functional Molecules for Sustainable Applications

Dear Colleagues,

The growing global demand for sustainable development, environmental protection, and reduced pollution is driving intense research efforts toward the design of advanced materials with improved efficiency, durability, and reduced environmental impact. In this context, the controlled pyrolysis of biomass (recently living organic material, such as wood, crop residues, leaves, etc.) has led to the production of multifunctional materials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and biochar. Such materials possess capabilities to remediate soil, air, and water by trapping heavy metals and pollutants in their pores, enhancing composting by speeding up biological decomposition and reducing odours, supporting microbial life, catalyzing important reactions, storing and producing renewable energy, etc. In addition, the integration of functional molecules with nanostructured materials, including CNTs and biochar, represents a powerful strategy for addressing global sustainability challenges.

The transition toward more sustainable technologies requires innovative approaches aimed at reducing the consumption of non-renewable resources, minimizing waste generation, and improving the performance and lifetime of functional materials. At the molecular level, the rational selection and engineering of functional molecules play a crucial role in controlling the structure, properties, and functionality of nanostructured systems, enabling multifunctionality while limiting material complexity and resource use.

Recent advances in nanoscience and materials chemistry have demonstrated that tailoring molecular interactions at the nanoscale allows precise control over surface chemistry, morphology, and physicochemical properties. This has led to the development of nanomaterials, CNTs, and biochar, with enhanced performance for a wide range of sustainable applications, including biomedicine, sensing, catalysis, energy-related technologies, environmental remediation, textiles, construction, automotive, and cultural heritage conservation.

In particular, the incorporation of functional molecules into already active or not active nanostructured architectures enables the modulation of their chemical reactivity, selectivity, optical and electronic behavior, surface wettability, antimicrobial activity, mechanical stability, and resistance to external agents. These features are essential for extending material lifetime, reducing maintenance needs, and improving overall efficiency in real-world applications.

More research is necessary to enhance both synthetic and processing strategies. Low-energy approaches, solvent reduction or elimination, and the use of renewable, bio-based, or secondary raw materials are needed to develop functionalized nanostructured materials that combine high performance with a reduced environmental footprint across their entire life cycle.

This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for original research articles and reviews focusing on the molecular design, synthesis, characterization, and application of functional molecules to nanostructured materials for sustainable applications. Contributions addressing structure–property relationships, molecular-level mechanisms, and innovative nanostructured systems that advance sustainability across diverse technological sectors are particularly welcome.

Dr. Giulia Rando
Dr. Maria Rosaria Plutino
Dr. Silvia Sfameni
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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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.