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Developments and Applications of Nanotechnologies in Surface/Interface, Catalysis and Fuel Cells

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Advanced Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 3260

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Yunfeng Qiu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Microsystems and Microstructures Manufacturing, School of Medicine and Health, Harbin Institute of Technology, No.2 Yikuang Street, Nan Gang District, Harbin 150080, China
Interests: microbial fuel cells (including anode/cathode design and preparation, power generation, hydrogen production, and antibiofouling of cathodes); electrocatalytic water-splitting (including hydrogen evolution reaction, oxygen evolution reaction, organic compounds oxidation reaction); antibacterial nanocomposites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanotechnologies have significantly impacted surface/interface science, catalysis, and fuel cell technology. In surface/interface science, nanotechnologies allow for the precise control and manipulation of surface properties at the nanoscale, leading to the development of materials with enhanced surface area, reactivity, and properties. This has implications for coatings, sensors, and biocompatible materials.

In catalysis, nanotechnologies enable the design and synthesis of catalysts with high surface area, controlled morphology, and improved catalytic activity. Nanocatalysts are more efficient and selective than traditional catalysts, making them valuable in a wide range of industrial processes, such as hydrogenation, oxidation, and carbon dioxide conversion.

In fuel cell technology, nanotechnologies are being used to develop new materials for fuel cell electrodes and electrolytes and improve fuel cells' performance and efficiency. Nanomaterials, such as platinum nanoparticles for catalysts and graphene-based materials for electrodes, have shown promise in enhancing fuel cells' power output and durability.

Overall, nanotechnologies play a critical role in lots of fields. The Special Issues aims to collect the latest research, offering new opportunities for innovative solutions in energy conversion and environmental sustainability. All papers (review, article, communications) are welcome to submit.

Prof. Dr. Yunfeng Qiu
Guest Editor

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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. 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

  • nanotechnologies
  • nanostructure
  • nanomaterial
  • nanocoating
  • nanoparticle
  • nanocatalyst
  • surface/interface
  • catalysis
  • fuel cells
  • electrode

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 2813 KiB  
Article
Z-Scheme ZIF-8/Ag3PO4 Heterojunction Photocatalyst for High-Performance Antibacterial Food Packaging Films
by Qingyang Zhou, Zhuluni Fang, Junyi Wang, Wenbo Zhang, Yihan Liu, Miao Yu, Zhuo Ma, Yunfeng Qiu and Shaoqin Liu
Materials 2025, 18(11), 2544; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18112544 - 28 May 2025
Abstract
Food spoilage caused by microbial contamination remains a global challenge, driving demand for sustainable antibacterial packaging. Conventional photocatalytic materials suffer from limited spectral response, rapid charge recombination, and insufficient reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation under visible light. Here, a Z-scheme heterojunction was constructed [...] Read more.
Food spoilage caused by microbial contamination remains a global challenge, driving demand for sustainable antibacterial packaging. Conventional photocatalytic materials suffer from limited spectral response, rapid charge recombination, and insufficient reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation under visible light. Here, a Z-scheme heterojunction was constructed by coupling zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) with Ag3PO4, achieving dual-spectral absorption and spatial charge separation. The directional electron transfer from Ag3PO4’s conduction band to ZIF-8 effectively suppresses electron-hole recombination, prolonging carrier lifetimes and amplifying ROS production (·O2−/·OH). Synergy with Ag+ release further enhances bactericidal efficacy. Incorporated into a cellulose acetate matrix (CAM), the ZIF-8/Ag3PO4/CAM film demonstrates 99.06% antibacterial efficiency against meat surface microbiota under simulated sunlight, alongside high transparency. This study proposes a Z-scheme heterojunction strategy to maximize ROS generation efficiency and demonstrates a scalable fabrication approach for active food packaging materials, effectively targeting microbial contamination control and shelf-life prolongation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Developments and Applications of Nanotechnologies in Surface/Interface, Catalysis and Fuel Cells)
24 pages, 10887 KiB  
Article
The Structural Effect of a Composite Solid Electrolyte on Electrochemical Performance and Fire Safety
by Hwiyun Im, Dae Ung Park, Yong Jae Lee, Junseok Moon, Sanglim Lee, Tae-Min Choi, Taek Lee, Giwon Lee, Jong-Min Oh, Weon Ho Shin, Sung Gyu Pyo, Anusorn Seubsai and Hiesang Sohn
Materials 2025, 18(7), 1536; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18071536 - 28 Mar 2025
Viewed by 502
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the structural effect of composite solid electrolytes of Al-doped LLZO and PVDF-HFP (0D_Al-LLZO@PVDF-HFP and 1D_Al-LLZO@PVDF-HFP) on electrochemical (EC) performance and fire safety through a systematic evaluation and comparative tests. The unique structure and advantageous features of composite solid [...] Read more.
In this study, we investigated the structural effect of composite solid electrolytes of Al-doped LLZO and PVDF-HFP (0D_Al-LLZO@PVDF-HFP and 1D_Al-LLZO@PVDF-HFP) on electrochemical (EC) performance and fire safety through a systematic evaluation and comparative tests. The unique structure and advantageous features of composite solid electrolytes (1D_Al-LLZO@PVDF-HFP) were highlighted by comparing controls (PVDF-HFP and 0D_Al-LLZO@PVDF-HFP) with physicochemical and electrochemical analyses and fire safety tests The structure and morphology of Al-doped LLZO/PVDF-HFP composites were analyzed with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while their chemical functionalities and free ion clusters were examined with Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy, respectively. The 1D_Al-LLZO@PVDF-HFP composite with a 1D structured Al-LLZO filler network in the PVDF-HFP matrix could effectively regulate the crystallinity of PVDF-HFP and facilitated lithium salt dissociation, resulting in a high lithium-ion transference number and ionic conductivity. As a result, the 1D_Al-LLZO@PVDF-HFP composite electrolyte with an optimized structure and low Al-LLZO content (~5.1 wt%) exhibited enhanced ionic conductivity (σ: 1.40 × 10−4 S/cm) with low interfacial resistance, broadened EC stability (voltage window: 4.75 V vs. Li/Li+), and a high lithium-ion transference number (0.75) superior to that of 0D_Al-LLZO@PVDF-HFP. In electrochemical characterizations, the 1D_Al-LLZO@PVDF-HFP-based EC cell demonstrated enhanced performance in a lithium symmetric cell (>2000 h) and full cell (LiFePO4|electrolyte|Li) of a reversible capacity of 102.7 mAh/g at 2C with a capacity retention of 85.7% over 200 cycles, better than that of a 0D_ Al-LLZO@PVDF-HFP-based EC cell. In flammability tests, Al-LLZO@PVDF-HFP demonstrated enhanced fire safety (nonflammability) compared with that of a PVDF-HFP-based electrolyte regardless of the composite structure, suggesting the importance of inorganic filler rather than their structural morphology in the composite. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Developments and Applications of Nanotechnologies in Surface/Interface, Catalysis and Fuel Cells)
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18 pages, 4879 KiB  
Article
An Endogenous Proton-Powered Adaptive Nanomotor for Treating Muscle Atrophy
by Ming Liu, Zhicun Liu, Xiangkai Qiao, Cheng Chen, Hongtu Guo, Hao Gu, Junbo Li and Tiedong Sun
Materials 2025, 18(6), 1351; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18061351 - 19 Mar 2025
Viewed by 680
Abstract
Nanomotors driven by endogenous enzymes are favored in biology and pharmacy due to their spontaneous driving and efficient biocatalytic activity, and have potential applications in the treatment of clinical diseases that are highly dependent on targeted effects. For diseases such as muscle atrophy, [...] Read more.
Nanomotors driven by endogenous enzymes are favored in biology and pharmacy due to their spontaneous driving and efficient biocatalytic activity, and have potential applications in the treatment of clinical diseases that are highly dependent on targeted effects. For diseases such as muscle atrophy, using energy molecules such as ATP to improve cellular metabolism is a relatively efficient treatment method. However, traditional adenosine triphosphate (ATP) therapies for muscle atrophy face limitations due to instability under physiological conditions and poor targeting efficiency. To address these challenges, we developed an endogenous proton-gradient-driven ATP transport motor (ATM), a nanomotor integrating chloroplast-derived FoF1-ATPase with a biocompatible flask-shaped organic shell (FOS). The ATM is synthesized by vacuum-injecting phospholipid-embedded FoF1-ATPase nanothylakoids into ribose-based FOS, enabling autonomous propulsion in acidic microenvironments through proton-driven negative chemotaxis (directional movement away from regions of higher proton concentration). This nanomotor converts proton gradients into ATP synthesis, directly replenishing cellular energy deficits in atrophic tissues. In vitro studies demonstrated high biocompatibility (>90% cell viability at 150 μg/mL) and pH-responsive motility, achieving speeds up to 4.32 μm/s under physiological gradients (ΔpH = 3). In vivo experiments using dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy mice revealed that ATM treatment accelerated weight recovery and restored normal muscle morphology, with treated mice exhibiting cell sizes comparable to healthy controls (30–40 μm vs. 15–25 μm in untreated). These results highlight the ATM’s potential as a precision therapeutic platform for metabolic disorders, leveraging the natural enzyme functionality and synthetic material design to enhance efficacy while minimizing systemic toxicity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Developments and Applications of Nanotechnologies in Surface/Interface, Catalysis and Fuel Cells)
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13 pages, 4634 KiB  
Article
Transforming Waste into Valuable Resources: Mo2C Nanoparticles Modified Waste Pinecone-Derived Carbon as an Effective Sulfur Host for Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
by Zhe Yang, Yicheng Han, Kai Chen, Guodong Zhang and Shuangxi Xing
Materials 2025, 18(5), 1141; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18051141 - 4 Mar 2025
Viewed by 735
Abstract
In this paper, the natural waste pinecone as a carbon precursor for the generation of satisfactory sulfur host materials in lithium–sulfur batteries was realized by introducing molybdenum carbide nanoparticles into the derived carbon structure. The conductive pinecone-derived carbon doped with N, O reveals [...] Read more.
In this paper, the natural waste pinecone as a carbon precursor for the generation of satisfactory sulfur host materials in lithium–sulfur batteries was realized by introducing molybdenum carbide nanoparticles into the derived carbon structure. The conductive pinecone-derived carbon doped with N, O reveals an expansive specific surface area, facilitating the accommodation of a higher sulfur load. Moreover, the integration of Mo2C nanoparticles also significantly enhances its chemical affinity and catalytic capacity for polysulfides (LiPSs) to alleviate the shuttle effect and accelerate sulfur redox conversion. As a result, the WPC-Mo2C/S electrode displays excellent electrochemical performance, including a low capacity decay rate of 0.074% per cycle during 600 cycles at 1 C and an outstanding rate capacity (631.2 mAh g−1 at 3 C). Moreover, with a high sulfur loading of 5.5 mg cm−2, the WPC-Mo2C/S electrode shows a high area capacity of 5.1 mAh cm−2 after 60 cycles at 0.2 C. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Developments and Applications of Nanotechnologies in Surface/Interface, Catalysis and Fuel Cells)
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19 pages, 6873 KiB  
Article
Construction of a MoOx/MoS2 Heterojunction via the Surface Sulfurization of the Oxide and Its Photocurrent-Switching Characteristics in the Range of the Broadband Light Spectrum
by Xingfa Ma, Xintao Zhang, Mingjun Gao, You Wang and Guang Li
Materials 2024, 17(22), 5507; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17225507 - 12 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 962
Abstract
In order to utilize the longer wavelength light, the surface sulfurization of MoO3 was carried out. The photocurrent responses to typical 650, 808, 980, and 1064 nm light sources with Au gap electrodes were investigated. The results showed that the surface S–O [...] Read more.
In order to utilize the longer wavelength light, the surface sulfurization of MoO3 was carried out. The photocurrent responses to typical 650, 808, 980, and 1064 nm light sources with Au gap electrodes were investigated. The results showed that the surface S–O exchange of MoO3 improved the interfacial charge transfer in the range of the broadband light spectrum. The S and O can be exchanged on the surface of MoO3 nanosheets under the hydrothermal condition, leading to the formation of a surface MoOx/MoS2 heterojunction. The interfacial interaction between the MoO3 nanosheets and MoS2 easily generated free electrons and holes, and it effectively avoided the recombination of photogenerated carriers. Meanwhile, the surface S-doping of MoO3 also resulted in the generation of an oxygen vacancy and sulfur vacancy on MoO3−xS2−y. The plasmonic characteristics of MoO3−x contributed to the enhancement of the interfacial charge transfer by photoexcitation. Otherwise, even with zero bias applied, a good photoelectric signal was still obtained with polyimide film substrates and carbon electrodes. This indicates that the formation of the heterojunction generates a strong built-in electric field that drives the photogenerated carrier transport, which can be self-powered. This study provides a simple and low-cost method for the surface functionalization of some metal oxides with a wide bandgap. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Developments and Applications of Nanotechnologies in Surface/Interface, Catalysis and Fuel Cells)
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