Topic: Advanced Metal Nanocatalysts: Design, Synthesis, and Catalytic Applications

Metal nanocatalysts encompass structures ranging from nanoparticles and nanoclusters to single-atom sites, as well as architectures integrating these distinct species. Controlling their size, composition, coordination environment, and interfacial structure offers opportunities to enhance catalytic activity, selectivity, and durability.

This Special Issue highlights advances in the design, synthesis, characterization and applications of metal nanocatalysts across heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis, thermocatalysis, electrocatalysis, photocatalysis, photoelectrocatalysis and hybrid catalytic systems. Applications include, but are not limited to, hydrogen production and utilization, water splitting, fuel cells, carbon dioxide conversion, nitrogen fixation, selective oxidation and hydrogenation, organic synthesis, biomass valorization, polymer production and recycling, and pollutant removal. Contributions addressing emerging catalytic processes and industrial applications are also encouraged.

We invite original research articles and reviews covering nanoparticles, alloys, intermetallic compounds, nanoclusters, atomically dispersed sites, and architectures combining multiple types of catalytic sites. Topics of interest include controlled synthesis, active-site engineering, metal–support interactions, cooperative catalysis and catalyst evolution under reaction conditions. Studies connecting catalytic performance with mechanistic insights, operando characterization, theoretical modeling, or assessments of stability, recyclability and scalability are particularly welcome.

This issue aims to connect materials innovation with diverse catalytic applications and promote efficient, selective, and sustainable catalytic technologies.