Nanostructured Materials for CO₂ Conversion and Reduction

Dear Colleagues,

The urgent need to address rising atmospheric CO₂ levels and achieve carbon neutrality has made CO₂ conversion and reduction one of the most critical scientific challenges of our time. Nanostructured materials have emerged as key enablers in this field, offering unparalleled opportunities to activate and transform stable CO₂ molecules into valuable fuels and chemicals. With precisely engineered size, morphology, composition, and surface structure, these nanomaterials can significantly enhance the activity, selectivity, and stability of catalytic processes, paving the way for sustainable energy cycles and a circular carbon economy.

This Special Issue focuses on the latest advances in the design, synthesis, characterization, and application of advanced nanostructured materials dedicated to CO₂ conversion and reduction. It aims to bridge fundamental mechanistic insights with practical performance, showcasing innovative solutions that leverage the unique properties of nanomaterials—such as high surface area, tunable electronic structures, and confined catalytic environments—to enable efficient and selective CO₂ transformation. The scope encompasses multidisciplinary research that explores novel catalytic systems, in-depth mechanistic studies, advanced operando characterization, theoretical modelling, and process engineering.

We invite the submission of original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that address, but are not limited to, the following topics:

Advanced Nanostructure Design: Innovative synthesis of nanoparticles, nanowires, single-atom catalysts, porous frameworks, and hybrid nanostructures tailored for CO₂ electroreduction, photoreduction, or thermocatalysis.

Mechanistic Insights and In Situ Studies: Fundamental research elucidating reaction pathways, active sites, and structure–property relationships under working conditions.

Performance Optimization: Strategies to enhance catalytic activity, product selectivity, energy efficiency, and long-term stability.

Integrated Systems and Applications: Development of catalytic devices, electrolyzers, photoelectrochemical cells, and hybrid systems for scalable CO₂ utilization, as well as assessments of their technological and environmental impact.

By curating a collection of cutting-edge research, we aim to present a comprehensive overview of the state of the art in nanomaterials for CO₂ conversion, foster interdisciplinary dialogue, and inspire next-generation technologies that contribute to a sustainable future.

Dr. Wenlong Wu
Dr. Lijun Zhang
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. Nanomaterials 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 2400 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.