Topic: Energy–Molecule Nexus for Sustainable Chemistry

The transition toward sustainable chemistry requires the integration of energy harvesting, energy conversion, molecular transformation, and resource utilization. Beyond optimizing individual processes, emerging technologies aim to establish interconnected energy–chemical systems that couple diverse energy inputs with efficient molecular transformations. The energy–molecule nexus provides a new framework for linking renewable energy utilization with catalytic conversion, chemical manufacturing, and resource circularity.

This Special Issue highlights advances in the energy–molecule nexus, including energy harvesting, energy conversion, catalytic molecular transformations, and integrated energy-related chemical systems. Particular emphasis is placed on triboelectric nanogenerators, blue energy harvesting, thermocells, and catalytic technologies that enable efficient conversion between energy and molecules. Advances in functional materials, interfacial engineering, reaction mechanisms, operando characterization, computational modeling, and system integration are also encouraged.

This Special Issue invites original research articles, reviews, and perspectives on energy–molecule interactions for sustainable chemistry. Topics include, but are not limited to:

● Energy harvesting and conversion technologies, including triboelectric nanogenerators, thermocells, electrochemical, photo-, photothermal, plasma, and thermal systems;

● Catalytic molecular transformations for carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, plastic, and biomass cycles;

● CO₂utilization, nitrogen conversion, sustainable fuels, and chemical production;

● Blue energy harvesting, self-powered systems, and integrated energy conversion platforms;

● Catalytic recycling and upcycling of plastics, polymers, biomass, and wastes;

● Coupled, paired, tandem, and cascade catalytic processes and reaction networks;

● Functional materials, catalyst design, dynamic interfaces, and reaction mechanisms;

● Operando characterization, computational modeling, machine learning, and integrated energy–chemical systems.

Energy–molecule nexus, energy harvesting, energy conversion, catalytic molecular transformation, sustainable chemistry, triboelectric nanogenerators, thermocells, self-powered systems, molecular recycling, circular chemistry