Advanced Functionalized Mesoporous Hybrid Materials for Photothermal, Photocatalytic, and Photo-Electrochemical Applications

Dear Colleagues,

The engineering of smart materials has been a hot topic for decades, with the aim to solve different environmental and energy issues or to bring some new unique characteristics to existing applications. The scientific research in the field of catalysis proves that the characteristics of as-prepared materials is the dominant factor behind the efficiency of catalytic processes, as well as their sustainability and cost. One of the advanced approaches to intensify the catalytic reactions is the functionalization of mesoporous materials to have a system in which a high catalytic surface area and appropriate distribution of catalytic NPs are obtained and work cooperatively.     

This Special Issue addresses all advances in functionalized mesoporous hybrid materials which bring synergistic effects in terms of catalysis in different fields. Several mesoporous based materials can be functionalized, such as metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), activated carbon, valorized lignocellulosic biomass and agriculture wastes, silica, and porous organic polymers.

I kindly invite you to submit your contribution to this Special Issue, whose topics include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Photocatalytic functionalized inorganic semiconductor/mesoporous materials towards environmental pollutants removal and energy generation.
2. Photothermal solar-driven mesoporous based steam systems for water desalination and/or fuels production.
3. (Contribution of photocatalysis in photothermal systems as an integrated application and/or to solve technological issues (e.g., biofouling and surface deactivation).
4. Contribution of mesoporous materials to intensify the redox and sorbing abilities of photo-electrochemical electrodes 
5. Role of mesoporous materials to fight the fast catalytic surface deactivation

Dr. Ridha Djellabi
Guest Editor

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. Materials 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 2600 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.

• mesoporous photocatalysts
• solar floating based photocatalysts
• mesoporous conducting polymers
• mesoporous solar photothermal absorbers
• mesoporous photo-electrochemical materials
• solar water desalination and purification
• solar air treatment
• energy production
• sustainable synthesis of porous materials
• valorization of natural porous materials