Application of Nanoscale Catalysis in Sustainable Energy Conversions Research
A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy and Catalysis".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 23 February 2026 | Viewed by 34
Special Issue Editors
Interests: nanomaterial; electrocatalyst; fuel cell; water electrolysis
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The growing need to mitigate climate change and reduce fossil fuel dependence has driven the search for efficient and sustainable energy conversion technologies. Nanoscale catalysis—manipulating materials at the atomic and molecular levels—has emerged as a powerful approach to addressing the energy demands of the 21st century. Since the early 2000s, this field has evolved significantly, powered by advancements in nanomaterial synthesis, surface characterization, and theoretical modeling. Catalysts at the nanoscale exhibit unique properties, including high surface area, tailored active sites, and tunable electronic structures, which make them highly effective for accelerating key reactions in clean energy systems.
The aim of this Special Issue is to highlight recent progress and future directions in nanoscale catalysis applied to sustainable energy conversions. This publication seeks to bridge fundamental studies with practical applications in electrocatalysis with a focus on reactions relevant to hydrogen production, CO2 and N2 reduction, oxygen evolution/reduction, and other clean energy pathways.
This Special Issue will showcase cutting-edge research including, but not limited to, the following areas:
- The development of nanostructured catalysts (e.g., alloys, oxides, carbides, single-atom catalysts);
- Mechanistic understanding using in situ/operando spectroscopy and microscopy;
- Theoretical insights from density functional theory (DFT) and machine learning;
- Strategies to enhance catalyst stability, activity, and scalability;
- The integration of nanocatalysts into fuel cells, electrolyzers, and electrochemical CO2 reduction reactors.
Dr. Xueru Zhao
Dr. Xiaobo Chen
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- nanoscale catalysis
- electrocatalysis
- energy conversion
- CO2 reduction
- fuel cells
- hydrogen production
- water electrocatalysis
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