Advances in Photocatalytic and Photoelectrocatalytic Materials: From Mechanisms to Applications
A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Catalytic Materials".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2026 | Viewed by 14
Special Issue Editors
Interests: photo(electro)catalytic materials; metal oxides; carbon nanomaterials; plasmonics; SERS
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: photocatalysis; photoelectrochemical; water splitting; solar energy conversion; wastewater treatment; energy; chemical engineering; catalyst; heterogeneous catalysis
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis have emerged as promising solar-driven technologies to address pressing challenges in environmental pollution, energy demand, and carbon footprint reduction. Recent advances in materials science have accelerated the design of efficient photo(electro)catalytic systems, overcoming key limitations such as low quantum efficiency and insufficient visible light absorption and bringing these technologies closer to practical application.
This Special Issue highlights recent progress in materials design, interfacial engineering, and mechanistic understanding of photocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic systems for sustainable environmental remediation and solar fuel production. Topics include pollutant removal from water and air, hydrogen generation, and CO2 conversion into value-added chemicals. Particular emphasis is placed on advanced catalysts, including multinary oxides, chalcogenides, and carbon-based semiconductors, as well as strategies such as co-catalyst integration, plasmonic and graphene modification, defect engineering, homo/heterojunction construction, and structural control (e.g., 2D, porous, and photonic architectures) to enhance light harvesting, charge separation, and mass transport.
This Special Issue aims to bridge fundamental understanding with technological application, fostering interdisciplinary contributions that advance the design of high-performance photo(electro)catalytic systems. Particular attention is given to the interplay between material properties, interfacial phenomena, and reaction pathways that govern efficiency and selectivity. By integrating experimental and theoretical insights, this Special Issue seeks to provide a comprehensive perspective on current challenges and emerging opportunities in solar-driven catalysis.
Key highlights include (i) advanced materials design for enhanced visible-light harvesting and charge separation; (ii) interface and heterojunction engineering for improved catalytic performance; (iii) mechanistic insights into photocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic processes; (iv) applications in environmental remediation and solar fuel production; and (v) sustainable approaches emphasizing stability, scalability, and low-toxicity materials.
We welcome original research and review articles covering synthesis, characterization, interface engineering, defect physics, and theoretical insights. Contributions on integrated systems, AI-assisted materials discovery, and durable, low-toxicity catalysts are especially encouraged.
We look forward to your submissions.
Prof. Dr. Vlassios Likodimos
Dr. Maria Antoniadou
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. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2600 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
- photocatalysis
- photoelectrocatalysis
- environmental remediation
- emerging contaminants
- hydrogen production
- CO2 reduction
- heterojunctions and co-catalysts
- 2D and photonic materials
- plasmonic- and carbon-based photocatalysts
- defect engineering
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.
