Developments in Photocatalysts and Photocatalytic Activity of Nanocomposite Materials

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy and Catalysis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 November 2025 | Viewed by 550

Special Issue Editors

Key Laboratory of Plateau Oxygen and Living Environment of Xizang Autonomous Region, College of Science, Xizang University, Lhasa 850000, China
Interests: advances in photo-/electrocatalysis for sustainable energy and environmental applications
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Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Plateau Oxygen and Living Environment of Xizang Autonomous Region, College of Science, Xizang University, Lhasa 850000, China
Interests: 2D nanomaterials and nanostructures; photocatalysts and environment applications; electrocatalyts for energy applications; renewable energy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
School of Electronic Science and Engineering, and State Key Laboratory of Electronic Thin Films and Integrated Devices, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610054, China
Interests: synthesis of two-dimensional semiconductors (e.g., graphene and MX2 series) and corresponding microelectronic and photoelectronic devices; nanomaterials for energy storages, e.g., lithium-sulfur batteries; nanomaterials for energy and environmental science; electrocatalysts for water splitting (e.g., HER, OER); photocatalysts for photocatalytic degradation and water splitting
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Photocatalytic technology has garnered widespread attention in energy conversion, environmental remediation, and organic synthesis. The development of efficient, low-cost photocatalysts is crucial for its broad application, and nanocomposite materials represent a promising pathway to achieve this goal. This Special Issue aims to compile the latest advances in the design, synthesis, characterization, and performance optimization of nanocomposite photocatalysts, fostering academic exchange and technological breakthroughs in the field.

Scope and Topics

We invite contributions addressing, but not limited to, the following research directions:

  1. Design and Synthesis of Novel Nanocomposite Photocatalysts: Strategies to enhance light absorption, charge carrier mobility, and surface reactivity while suppressing charge recombination, as well as their synergistic effects;
  2. Mechanistic Insights: Elucidation of charge separation dynamics, surface reaction kinetics, and active-site mechanisms via in situ characterization and theoretical calculations;
  3. Performance Optimization: Morphology control, defect engineering, plasmonic effects, cocatalyst loading, and other approaches to improve photocatalytic activity;
  4. Emerging Applications: Water splitting for H₂ production, CO₂ reduction, pollutant degradation, antibacterial activity, organic transformations, and beyond;
  5. Stability and Scalability: Challenges in long-term stability, recyclability, and engineering solutions for real-world applications.

We welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspectives to promote interdisciplinary innovation in nanocomposite photocatalysts. This Special Issue will serve as a platform for showcasing cutting-edge research and advancing sustainable photocatalytic technologies.

Dr. Yong Li
Prof. Dr. Shifeng Wang
Prof. Dr. Yuanfu Chen
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • photocatalysts
  • nanocomposite materials
  • sustainable energy
  • environmental applications
  • photocatalytic activity

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

13 pages, 3578 KiB  
Article
Prussian Blue Analogue-Derived p-n Junction Heterostructure for Photothermal Reverse Water–Gas Shift: Enhanced Activity and Selectivity via Synergistic Effects
by Shaorui Jia, Xinbo Zhang, Junhong Ma, Chaoyun Ma, Xue Yu and Yuanhao Wang
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(12), 904; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15120904 - 11 Jun 2025
Viewed by 271
Abstract
Photothermal catalytic CO2 conversion into chemicals that provide added value represents a promising strategy for sustainable energy utilization, yet the development of highly efficient, stable, and selective catalysts remains a significant challenge. Herein, we report a rationally designed p-n junction heterostructure, T-CZ-PBA [...] Read more.
Photothermal catalytic CO2 conversion into chemicals that provide added value represents a promising strategy for sustainable energy utilization, yet the development of highly efficient, stable, and selective catalysts remains a significant challenge. Herein, we report a rationally designed p-n junction heterostructure, T-CZ-PBA (SC), synthesized via controlled pyrolysis of high crystalline Prussian blue analogues (PBA) precursor, which integrates CuCo alloy, ZnO, N-doped carbon (NC), and ZnII-CoIIIPBA into a synergistic architecture. This unique configuration offers dual functional advantages: (1) the abundant heterointerfaces provide highly active sites for enhanced CO2 and H2 adsorption/activation, and (2) the engineered energy band structure optimizes charge separation and transport efficiency. The optimized T-C3Z1-PBA (SC) achieves exceptional photothermal catalytic performance, demonstrating a CO2 conversion rate of 126.0 mmol gcat⁻1 h⁻1 with 98.8% CO selectivity under 350 °C light irradiation, while maintaining robust stability over 50 h of continuous operation. In situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (in situ DRIFTS) investigations have identified COOH* as a critical reaction intermediate and elucidated that photoexcitation accelerates charge carrier dynamics, thereby substantially promoting the conversion of key intermediates (CO2* and CO*) and overall reaction kinetics. This research provides insights for engineering high-performance heterostructured catalysts by controlling interfacial and electronic structures. Full article
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