Catalytic Nanomaterials for Energy and Environmental Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Currently, there is an unprecedented energy crisis globally due to the limited sources of fossil fuels and their related pollution and conversion issues. Similarly, climatic and environmental challenges are serious nowadays, needing more concentration of researchers. The need for energy is increasing as never before due to global advancements. This current situation forces us to concentrate on renewable sources like solar, wind, and hydrogen energies to mitigate environmental changes. Sustainable solutions for the global challenges in energy, climate, and environmental changes are the primary concern. In this regard, the development of new highly efficient, low-cost, and durable materials is essential for energy storage and conversion for the sustainable growth of economics. In this area of energy generation and storage, nanoparticles have great significance as they are used as efficient catalysts to accelerate chemical reactions. Sustainable solutions for the global challenges in energy, climate, and environmental changes are required. Novel catalytic renewable and non-toxic materials and methods are required for sustainability.

Nanomaterials prepared via simple procedures exhibit efficient catalytic activities compared with bulk counterparts produced using expensive techniques. Nanoparticles of different composite materials can have a high surface area with high dispersion ability, and consequently, the catalytic activities are increased. These nanoparticles synthesized without agglomeration and uniform size distribution gained attraction for the preparation of efficient catalytic materials. As these nanoparticles provide more active sites due it their high specific surface area, they can increase the rate of chemical reactions and related efficiencies. Moreover, nanoparticles can be tailored comprehensively for specific applications, and highly selective control of reactions can be achieved by precisely manipulating the size, shape, and composition of nanoparticles. This case-dependent selective preparation of nanoparticles with improved catalytic performance reduces the generation of unnecessary by-products minimizing cost and time. In very small nanoparticles, quantum confinement effects take place, which can improve further its catalytic performances. In addition, the surface modification of nanoparticles with different functional groups provides multifunctional catalysts such as electro, photo, magneto, and photo-electro catalysts with recovery and reuse properties. Recently, nanoparticles have been widely used in various advanced and new applications due to their improved and highly efficient catalytic activities. The exploration of nanoparticles is expected to promote science and technology in the future. The improved catalytic activities of nanoparticles are very much required in energy, environmental, and pharmaceutical fields to speed up research. Nanomaterials such as nano- and quantum particles, nanocomposites, and nanointerfaces are highly attractive.

In this present Special Issue, we are inviting research and review articles from various groups working on related fields to contribute to the novel collection of research outcomes to benefit society in the state-of-the-art area of the field. It mainly focuses on various efficient and affordable materials useful for batteries, supercapacitors, solar and fuel cells, and its related design and developments. Energy applications include energy generation and storage devices such as photovoltaic cells, piezoelectric devices, self-powered devices, supercapacitors, and batteries. Environmental applications include gas sensors and photocatalytic devices for water remediation, pollution control, and remediation.

Furthermore, it includes the synthesis and characterization of materials encompassing energy-related physical and chemical property measurements, fabrication, and evaluation of different devices for energy storage and conversion applications and their evaluations. Alternative materials such as renewable or waste materials and their processing and properties for efficient electrode materials can also be considered to be sustainable materials.

Dr. Kathalingam Adaikalam
Guest Editor

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• metal and oxide nanoparticles
• complex nanoparticles
• nanoparticle catalysts
• material for energy storage and conversion
• solar energy
• water splitting
• hydrogen energy
• sustainable materials management
• environmental remediation
• waste water treatments