Bifunctional Catalysts for Selective Hydrogenation and Oxidation

Dear Colleagues,

Depletion of fossil fuels and the potential risks related to climate changes have driven enormous efforts towards replacing petroleum with more sustainable lignocellulosic biomass to produce fuels and chemicals. In this framework, developing potential cascade chemical processes using heterogeneous catalysts with ample amounts of acid, base or redox-active sites is essential. The appropriately tailored catalysts can perform multiple reaction steps in a one-pot regime or with integrated reactors, diminishing the need for separation steps and lowering the overall cost and limiting waste production.

On the other hand, due to constantly emerging portable devices, developing ways to store high density of energy is another important research area requiring multifunctional materials. For example, among the energy storage and conversion technologies, regenerative fuel cells (RFCs) are recognized as potential high energy density devices. In RFCs, oxygen evolution reaction (OER, charge process) and oxygen reduction reaction (ORR, discharge process) occur at the same electrode, and this is known as "bifunctional". However, the lack of suitable multifunctional materials for electrodes hinders full commercialization of these devices.

The main purpose of the present Special Issue is to show the current progress in the development of bifunctional catalysts for variety of reactions. These include, but are not limited to, hydrogenation, oxidation, hydrolysis, fast pyrolysis, hydroprocessing, oxidation, (trans) esterification, amination, dehydration, and isomerization. This Special Issue also welcomes original submissions dealing with bifunctional materials for energy production and energy storage devices, including materials preparation, characterization, and application.

Dr. Katarzyna Morawa Eblagon
Dr. Anna Malaika
Dr. Prince Nana Amaniampong
Guest Editors

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