Topic: The Future of Mineral Materials – Catalytic Materials and Energy Materials

The global energy transition towards cleaner technologies demands the development of new functional/advanced mineral materials. While the predicted energy mix will still include a share of liquid fuels, the bulk of the energy supply will come from renewable sources such as solar, wind, water, and biomass.

Part of the liquid fuel mix will be of biomass origin and such feedstocks require the development of catalysts for effective hydrodeoxygenation and inherently for hydrodenitrogenation and hydrodesulfurization, even though nitrogen and sulfur are in small quantities relative to oxygen. Refined crude oil will most likely still form part of the liquid fuel mix by 2050, but the demand for the removal of harmful contaminants such as organosulfur, organonitrogen, and metal-containing compounds will be much more stringent. Therefore, new catalytic materials are necessary for processing such liquid fuel streams. Minerals-derived catalysts will also find themselves at the center of carbon offsetting strategies, such as the conversion of CO₂ to fuels and fine chemicals. In addition, the fabrication and use of advanced mineral materials in batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells, hydrogen technologies, and solar power technologies are innovative strategies that contribute to sustainable development.

The new journal, Minerals and Mineral Materials, launches this Special Issue and invites researchers who are engaged in advanced mineral materials to submit original articles, communications, or reviews focusing on materials that advance sustainable energy for the future.

I look forward to your contributions to this Special Issue.

Yours sincerely,
Prof. Zeni Tshentu
Guest Editor