About this Research Topic
Catalytic oxidative processes are involved in different environmental and industrial fields, such as the degradation of organic pollutants and microplastics, synthesis of intermediates and chemical recycling or upcycling of polymers. Advanced oxidation processes allow the purification of water and air, selective oxidations have great importance in the chemical industry, including biorefinery for biomass exploitation, while the catalytic conversion of waste polymers is emerging as a circular economy strategy, leading to added-value low molecular weight compounds and other precious raw materials for closed-loop processes, new syntheses, and energy production.
These reactions can be promoted by suitable transition metals or semiconductors (e.g., through photocatalysis), either by direct electron transfer or by the formation of oxidizing agents (such as reactive oxygen species), even without the use of an irradiation source. Despite the research efforts toward nanomaterials with effective redox properties, the development of catalysts featuring high oxidative activity and tailored selectivity along with low cost and sustainable features is an open challenge. In the context of sustainability, both the design and synthesis of the catalysts and the process conditions need to conform to the principles of green chemistry and green engineering.
This Research Topic aims to collect the latest advances in the field of catalytic oxidative processes, focusing on the design, fabrication, and assessment of efficient and sustainable redox-active materials. These may include inorganic, polymeric, hybrid or composite materials, synthesized with controlled composition, morphology, nanostructure, surface and physicochemical properties. Nowadays, special attention must be devoted to innovative and peculiar preparation routes that meet the principles of green chemistry, and to the choice of the components, avoiding those critical raw materials associated with large risks of resource depletion, and privileging the use of naturally abundant, easily accessible, or waste-derived elements and compounds. Catalysts able to promote oxidation pathways without heavy energy inputs (e.g., high temperature or intense UV irradiation) are particularly sought. A deep understanding of structure-property-activity relationships is crucial to rationally select the best performing materials for the desired application. In addition, a complete analysis of the redox process under study and its catalytic mechanism is useful to guide its optimization and scale-up, in view of the validation, scale-up and industrialization of the technology. All these aspects fall into the scope of the Research Topic.
We welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, and Perspective articles on themes including, but not limited to:
• Synthesis and study of inorganic, hybrid, or composite materials with intrinsic oxidative ability and/or photocatalytic activity
• Application of (photo)catalytic materials in the degradation of organic pollutants or microplastics
• Application of (photo)catalytic materials in selective oxidation reactions
• Application of (photo)catalytic materials in oxidation-based recycling or upcycling of polymers and waste biomass
• Innovative heterogeneous advanced oxidation processes for water/air treatment
• Assessment of the environmental sustainability of specific synthesis routes and oxidation processes
These reactions can be promoted by suitable transition metals or semiconductors (e.g., through photocatalysis), either by direct electron transfer or by the formation of oxidizing agents (such as reactive oxygen species), even without the use of an irradiation source. Despite the research efforts toward nanomaterials with effective redox properties, the development of catalysts featuring high oxidative activity and tailored selectivity along with low cost and sustainable features is an open challenge. In the context of sustainability, both the design and synthesis of the catalysts and the process conditions need to conform to the principles of green chemistry and green engineering.
This Research Topic aims to collect the latest advances in the field of catalytic oxidative processes, focusing on the design, fabrication, and assessment of efficient and sustainable redox-active materials. These may include inorganic, polymeric, hybrid or composite materials, synthesized with controlled composition, morphology, nanostructure, surface and physicochemical properties. Nowadays, special attention must be devoted to innovative and peculiar preparation routes that meet the principles of green chemistry, and to the choice of the components, avoiding those critical raw materials associated with large risks of resource depletion, and privileging the use of naturally abundant, easily accessible, or waste-derived elements and compounds. Catalysts able to promote oxidation pathways without heavy energy inputs (e.g., high temperature or intense UV irradiation) are particularly sought. A deep understanding of structure-property-activity relationships is crucial to rationally select the best performing materials for the desired application. In addition, a complete analysis of the redox process under study and its catalytic mechanism is useful to guide its optimization and scale-up, in view of the validation, scale-up and industrialization of the technology. All these aspects fall into the scope of the Research Topic.
We welcome the submission of Original Research, Review, Mini Review, and Perspective articles on themes including, but not limited to:
• Synthesis and study of inorganic, hybrid, or composite materials with intrinsic oxidative ability and/or photocatalytic activity
• Application of (photo)catalytic materials in the degradation of organic pollutants or microplastics
• Application of (photo)catalytic materials in selective oxidation reactions
• Application of (photo)catalytic materials in oxidation-based recycling or upcycling of polymers and waste biomass
• Innovative heterogeneous advanced oxidation processes for water/air treatment
• Assessment of the environmental sustainability of specific synthesis routes and oxidation processes
Keywords: Heterogeneous catalysis, synthesis, advanced oxidation processes, photocatalysis, green chemistry
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
