Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
6.4
3.2
Journals
Materials
Special Issues
Photocatalytic Materials and Technologies for Environmental Sustainability
materials-logo
Submit to Materials Review for Materials Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

Photocatalytic Materials and Technologies for Environmental Sustainability

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Catalytic Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 February 2026) | Viewed by 1594

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Salah Rafqah

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratoire de Chimie Analytique et Moléculaire, Faculté Polydisciplinaire de Safi, Université Cadi Ayyad, Sidi Bouzid, B.P. 4162, Safi 46000, Morocco
Interests: analytical chemistry; environmental chemistry, photochemistry; nanomaterials; material characterization; advanced oxidation processes; photocatalytic decontamination; adsorption
Dr. Lahoucine Bahsis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, University Chouaib Doukkal, El Jadida 299-24000, Morocco
Interests: surface nanoengineering; reactive surfaces and mechanism; organometallics and catalysis; computational chemistry; green chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. El Mountassir El Mouchtari

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Analytical and Molecular Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Sultan Moulay Slimane, Beni Mellal, Morocco
Interests: photocatalysis; adsorption; environmental chemistry; analytical chemistry; water remediation; advanced materials; nanocomposites; material synthesis; heterogeneous catalysis

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As Guest Editor, I am delighted to present this Special Issue entitled "Photocatalytic Materials and Technologies for Environmental Sustainability", focusing on three key topics: the synthesis of innovative materials, the adsorption and degradation of pollutants via photocatalysis, and hydrogen production through photocatalysis.

Photocatalytic materials are at the forefront of addressing critical environmental challenges, offering sustainable solutions for pollution remediation and clean energy production. This Special Issue aims to bring together original contributions and new perspectives on the following themes:

  1. Synthesis of Novel Photocatalytic Materials:
    • Development of advanced materials, including nanostructures, hybrid composites, and bio-inspired systems.
    • Innovative fabrication techniques and optimization of photocatalytic properties.
    • Valorization of waste materials for the production of sustainable and cost-effective photocatalysts.
  2. Adsorption and Degradation of Pollutants via Photocatalysis:
    • Efficient capture and complete degradation of organic pollutants (e.g., dyes, pesticides, pharmaceuticals) and inorganic pollutants (e.g., heavy metals, nitrates).
    • Mechanistic studies on the synergy between adsorption and photocatalysis to enhance performance.
    • Applications in water purification, air treatment, and soil remediation.
  3. Hydrogen Production via Photocatalysis:
    • Design of efficient materials for solar-driven water splitting.
    • Photocatalytic CO₂ reduction to produce renewable fuels.
    • Development of integrated systems for improved efficiency and stability in hydrogen production.

This Special Issue invites submissions of original research articles, critical reviews, and practical case studies. We hope this collection will expand the scientific and technological boundaries of environmental sustainability while promoting concrete solutions to current global challenges.

Dr. Salah Rafqah
Dr. Lahoucine Bahsis
Dr. El Mountassir El Mouchtari
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

  • photocatalytic materials
  • adsorption
  • water purification
  • air purification
  • hydrogen production
  • hybrid materials
  • advanced photocatalysts
  • nanocomposites
  • environmental sustainability
  • waste valorization
  • photocatalytic hydrogen production

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.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

17 pages, 5721 KB  
Article
Controllable Preparation and Optimisation of Bi4O5Br2 for Photocatalytic Reduction of CO2 to CO
by Xiaolong Cai, Baiquan Jing, Rong Li, Yongbo Ma, Baowei Cao and Yunhua Xu
Materials 2025, 18(23), 5442; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma18235442 - 2 Dec 2025
Viewed by 556
Abstract
The use of photocatalytic CO2 reduction as a green technology has attracted the attention of scholars. Nevertheless, the lower visible-light utilisation and photocatalytic efficiency of catalysts remain a challenge. In this work, BixOyBrz photocatalysts were synthesised using [...] Read more.
The use of photocatalytic CO2 reduction as a green technology has attracted the attention of scholars. Nevertheless, the lower visible-light utilisation and photocatalytic efficiency of catalysts remain a challenge. In this work, BixOyBrz photocatalysts were synthesised using a hydrothermal method by adjusting the molar ratio of Bi(NO3)3·5H2O and C19H42BrN (Bi:Br ratio) and the pH value of the precursor solution. The obtained samples were characterised, and the CO2 reduction performance was tested. The results showed that the phase composition for most of the samples was Bi4O5Br2, and BiOBr or Bi5O7Br was also confirmed in a small number of samples. Owing to the effects of pH and the Bi:Br ratio on the reaction process, BiOBr→Bi4O5Br2→Bi5O7Br transformation occurred. Acidic conditions are conducive to the formation of BiOBr. In alkaline environments, bismuth-rich Bi4O5Br2 or even Bi5O7Br easily forms. Bi4O5Br2 has self-assembled microsphere and irregular polyhedron morphologies. The polyhedron Bi4O5Br2 results in CO and CH4 yields of 10.34 μmol·g−1·h−1 and 1.86 μmol·g−1·h−1 in CO2 reduction, respectively. Although the microsphere Bi4O5Br2 has a maximum light absorption wavelength of 438 nm, the polyhedron Bi4O5Br2 has the best photocatalytic CO2 reduction performance and CO selectivity. This work describes the controllable preparation of Bi4O5Br2 at various pH values and Bi:Br ratios and the optimisation of its photocatalytic performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalytic Materials and Technologies for Environmental Sustainability)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

41 pages, 16378 KB  
Review
Engineering Design Strategies for Boosting Photocatalytic Activity: Theory-to-Data-Driven Perspective
by Wilian Jesús Pech-Rodríguez, Nihat Ege Şahin and Gladis Guadalupe Suarez-Velázquez
Materials 2026, 19(7), 1472; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19071472 - 7 Apr 2026
Viewed by 539
Abstract
Photocatalysts have emerged as a promising approach for the treatment of contaminated water, particularly for the removal of dyes and pharmaceutical residues that pose risks to human health. In addition, they can be employed for the generation of chemical fuels such as H [...] Read more.
Photocatalysts have emerged as a promising approach for the treatment of contaminated water, particularly for the removal of dyes and pharmaceutical residues that pose risks to human health. In addition, they can be employed for the generation of chemical fuels such as H2 and oxidizers such as H2O2, which have been proposed as sustainable energy carriers to reduce reliance on fossil fuels. The first part of this brief review provides a detailed overview of the fundamental concepts of photocatalysis, including reaction pathways and reported mechanisms. The second part explores the main design strategies for enhancing photocatalytic performance, including morphology control and structural modification. Then, the third section highlights the benefits of theoretical modeling, including first-principles calculations and molecular simulations. The document culminates with a section on challenges and future perspectives, highlighting major issues in photocatalyst development such as large-scale synthesis, material stability, and reusability. This brief review is intended to provide young researchers with a concise understanding of the most effective strategies for enhancing photocatalytic performance, as well as the mechanisms influencing morphology and structural parameters. This work presents an integrated framework linking synthesis strategies, particle growth mechanisms, multidimensional nanostructures, in situ and operando characterization, and computational modeling to guide the rational design of next-generation photocatalysts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photocatalytic Materials and Technologies for Environmental Sustainability)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop