Sustainable Catalysis for Green Chemistry and Energy Transition, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Catalysis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 3615

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Life Sciences, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea
Interests: sustainable catalysis; green chemistry; renewable energy; nanotechnology; biocatalysis; CO2 conversion; biomass valorization; circular economy; machine learning; medicinal plants; climate change mitigation; salinity stress; antioxidants; CRISPR/Cas genome editing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Life Sciences, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea
Interests: catalysis; green chemistry; or-ganic chemistry; sustainable chemistry; reaction mecha-nisms; catalyst design; renew-able resources; environmen-tally friendly synthesis; waste reduction; process efficiency
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This issue is a continuation of the previous successful Special Issue titled “Sustainable Catalysis for Green Chemistry and Energy Transition”.

Catalysis stands at the forefront of sustainable development, offering transformative solutions in chemistry and energy essential to addressing global environmental challenges. By enabling eco-friendly chemical reactions and advancing renewable energy technologies, catalysis contributes to the achievement of a sustainable future. This field supports green chemistry by reducing waste, enhancing efficiency, and operating under milder conditions, aligning closely with the principles needed for sustainable industry practices. It also plays a pivotal role in the energy transition, where innovative catalytic systems are vital for developing renewable sources such as hydrogen, biofuels, and CO2 reduction technologies, offering cleaner alternatives to traditional fossil fuels.

This Special Issue highlights a range of catalytic innovations designed to meet sustainability goals, with a focus on key areas such as heterogeneous catalysis for renewable energy, emphasizing materials and processes that support hydrogen evolution, CO2 conversion, and biofuel production. Another critical focus is photocatalysis and electrocatalysis, driving solar-driven and electrochemical reactions to transform energy storage and conversion processes.

The scope of this issue further encompasses biocatalysis and biomass valorization, with the aim of exploring enzyme-based systems to convert biomass into valuable chemicals and fuels, thus reducing waste and enhancing resource efficiency. Articles will also cover transition metal and organometallic catalysis, with systems designed to operate under mild conditions, to improve selectivity, and to minimize waste, which are crucial for scalable and green processes.

Integrating catalysis within a circular economy framework is also central, emphasizing catalytic recycling and waste valorization to close the loop in chemical processes, reducing environmental impact. Computational catalysis and machine learning represent an exciting frontier, as computational methods and AI are now essential tools in catalyst design, enabling the prediction and optimization of catalytic behavior for more efficient discovery.

By synthesizing research at this intersection, this issue aims to drive advancements in green chemistry and energy, fostering catalytic solutions that support the transition toward a sustainable, low-carbon future.

Prof. Dr. Wajid Zaman
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Saeed Akhtar
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Catalysts is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2200 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

  • sustainable catalysis
  • green chemistry
  • energy transition
  • heterogeneous catalysis
  • renewable energy
  • hydrogen evolution
  • CO₂ conversion
  • biofuels
  • photocatalysis
  • electrocatalysis
  • biocatalysts
  • biomass valorization
  • transition metal catalysis
  • organometallic catalysis
  • circular economy
  • catalytic recycling
  • computational catalysis
  • machine learning
  • catalyst design
  • low-carbon future

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.

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

22 pages, 6790 KB  
Article
Reverse Steam Rising: A Novel Route to Hierarchical Nickel Organometallics for Enhanced Oxygen Evolution
by Nezar H. Khdary, Mamdouh E. Abdelsalam, Abdulrahman S. Alablan, Sami D. Alzahrani, Ahmad O. Fallatah and Muteb F. Alotaibi
Catalysts 2025, 15(10), 918; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15100918 - 24 Sep 2025
Viewed by 131
Abstract
This work introduces the Reverse Steam Rising Process (RSRP), a novel dissolution method, for the preparation of highly homogeneous organo-nickel composites. This approach enables gradual material dissolution, resulting in improved material integration. We investigate two distinct synthetic pathways: a direct organic material–nickel composite [...] Read more.
This work introduces the Reverse Steam Rising Process (RSRP), a novel dissolution method, for the preparation of highly homogeneous organo-nickel composites. This approach enables gradual material dissolution, resulting in improved material integration. We investigate two distinct synthetic pathways: a direct organic material–nickel composite and a surfactant-assisted variation. Our findings demonstrate that the inclusion of a surfactant significantly improves the properties of the resulting organo-nickel composite. The RSRP method differs from traditional synthesis methods in that it utilizes reverse steam condensation to create a highly porous, multi-level structure. This unique structure significantly boosts the material’s electrocatalytic performance, particularly for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The Ni-MOF-CTAB catalyst exhibits an overpotential of 397 mV at 10 mA cm−2 and a Tafel slope of 183 mV dec−1, outperforming pristine Ni-MOF. The hierarchical design promotes superior ion and gas transport, while the distinctive organometallic configuration optimizes electronic interactions critical for OER activity. This innovative process enables precise control over both the micro- and nanoscale morphology of the nickel-based catalyst, ultimately leading to superior performance metrics. This advancement offers a new pathway for developing high-performance nickel organometallic materials for diverse electrocatalytic applications. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

17 pages, 7186 KB  
Article
Tuning High-Entropy Oxides for Oxygen Evolution Reaction Through Electrocatalytic Water Splitting: Effects of (MnFeNiCoX)3O4 (X = Cr, Cu, Zn, and Cd) on Electrocatalytic Performance
by Milad Zehtab Salmasi, Amir Narimani, Ali Omidkar and Hua Song
Catalysts 2025, 15(9), 827; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15090827 - 1 Sep 2025
Viewed by 732
Abstract
This research presents the development of spinel-type high-entropy oxide (HEO) catalysts with the general composition (MnFeNiCoX)3O4, where X represents Cr, Cu, Zn, and Cd, synthesized through a solution combustion method. The impact of the fifth metal element on the [...] Read more.
This research presents the development of spinel-type high-entropy oxide (HEO) catalysts with the general composition (MnFeNiCoX)3O4, where X represents Cr, Cu, Zn, and Cd, synthesized through a solution combustion method. The impact of the fifth metal element on the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) was systematically explored using structural, morphological, and electrochemical characterization techniques. Among the various compositions, the Cr-containing catalyst, (MnFeNiCoCr)3O4, displayed outstanding electrocatalytic behavior, delivering a notably low overpotential of 323 mV at a current density of 10 mA/cm2 in 1.0 M KOH—surpassing the performance of benchmark RuO2. Additionally, this material exhibited the smallest Tafel slope (56 mV/dec), the greatest double-layer capacitance (3.35 mF/cm2), and the most extensive electrochemically active surface area, all indicating enhanced charge transfer capability and high catalytic proficiency. The findings highlight the potential of element tailoring in HEOs as a promising strategy for optimizing water oxidation catalysis. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research

22 pages, 2910 KB  
Review
Global Research Trends in Catalysis for Green Hydrogen Production from Wastewater: A Bibliometric Study (2010–2024)
by Motasem Y. D. Alazaiza, Al-Anoud Al-Yazeedi, Talal Al Wahaibi, Farouk Mjalli, Abdulkareem Abubakar, Mohammed Abd El Hameed and Mohammed Javeed Siddique
Catalysts 2025, 15(9), 915; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15090915 - 22 Sep 2025
Viewed by 240
Abstract
By turning a waste stream into a clean energy source, green hydrogen generation from wastewater provides a dual solution to energy and environmental problems. This study presents a thorough bibliometric analysis of research trends in the field of green hydrogen generation from wastewater [...] Read more.
By turning a waste stream into a clean energy source, green hydrogen generation from wastewater provides a dual solution to energy and environmental problems. This study presents a thorough bibliometric analysis of research trends in the field of green hydrogen generation from wastewater between 2010 and 2024. A total of 221 publications were extracted from Scopus database, and VOSviewer (1.6.20) was used as a visualization tool to identify influential authors, institutions, collaborations, and thematic focus areas. The analysis revealed a significant increase in research output, with a peak of 122 publications in 2024, with a total of 705 citations. China had the most contributions with 60 publications, followed by India (30) and South Korea (26), indicating substantial regional involvement in Asia. Keyword co-occurrence and coauthorship network mapping revealed 779 distinct keywords grouped around key themes like electrolysis, hydrogen evolution reactions, and wastewater treatment. Significantly, this work was supported by contributions from 115 publication venues, with the International Journal of Hydrogen Energy emerging as the most active and cited source (40 articles, 539 citations). The multidisciplinary aspect of the area was highlighted by keyword co-occurrence analysis, which identified recurring themes including electrolysis, wastewater treatment, and hydrogen evolution processes. Interestingly, the most-cited study garnered 131 citations and discussed the availability of unconventional water sources for electrolysis. Although there is growing interest in the field, it is still in its initial phases, indicating a need for additional research, particularly in developing countries. This work offers a basic overview for researchers and policymakers who are focused on promoting the sustainable generation of green hydrogen from wastewater. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

26 pages, 3695 KB  
Review
Metal-Modified Zeolites for Catalytic Dehydration of Bioethanol to Ethylene: Mechanisms, Preparation, and Performance
by Hailong Ma, Shiwen Zhang, Hui Gao and Dongsheng Wen
Catalysts 2025, 15(8), 791; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal15080791 - 20 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1038
Abstract
With increasing demands for sustainable chemical production, bioethanol-derived ethylene offers a promising alternative to petroleum-based routes. This review examines recent advances in metal-modified zeolites for the catalytic conversion of bioethanol to ethylene. The fundamental reaction mechanisms and preparation methodologies are systematically analysed. Various [...] Read more.
With increasing demands for sustainable chemical production, bioethanol-derived ethylene offers a promising alternative to petroleum-based routes. This review examines recent advances in metal-modified zeolites for the catalytic conversion of bioethanol to ethylene. The fundamental reaction mechanisms and preparation methodologies are systematically analysed. Various metal modification strategies are discussed alongside their effects on catalyst properties. The influence of zeolite framework characteristics, metal species selection, and reaction parameters on catalytic performance are evaluated. Detailed attention is given to deactivation mechanisms and strategies for catalyst regeneration and lifetime extension. The analysis provides insights into rational catalyst design for sustainable ethylene production, highlighting opportunities for future research in enhancing catalyst stability and efficiency. Full article
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Back to TopTop