Catalysis and Materials Chemistry for a Carbon-Neutral Energy Cycle: From CO2 Valorization to Electrochemical Energy Storage and Conversion

Reaching net-zero requires closing the loop between energy conversion, energy storage, and carbon management. Catalytic activation of CO2 turns a waste stream into fuels, polymers, and platform chemicals; electrocatalytic processes (HER, ORR, CO2RR) reshape how we produce hydrogen and value-added molecules from renewable electricity. Next-generation batteries (Li-ion, Li–S, metal–air) and PEM/SOFC fuel cells demand new electrode chemistries, ion-transport membranes, and engineered interfaces. The same chemistry of active sites, defects, and interfaces that governs a CO2 reduction catalyst dictates the rate, selectivity, and durability of a battery cathode or fuel-cell electrode.Molecular catalysis, materials chemistry, and electrochemistry under a carbon-neutral framing. From homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts for CO2 activation to functional materials for batteries, fuel cells, electrolyzers, and gas-separation membranes—with attention to mechanistic understanding, structure–activity relationships, and operando characterization. Studies bridging molecular catalysis and electrochemistry, or integrating capture-conversion-storage into hybrid systems, especially encouraged.• CO2 capture, activation, and catalytic conversion to fuels, polymers, and fine chemicals• Homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts for C1 chemistry and reaction-mechanism studies• Electrocatalysts for HER, ORR, OER, and CO2RR• Cathode, anode, and electrolyte materials for Li-ion, Li–S, Na-ion, and metal–air batteries• Membrane electrode assemblies and electrolytes for PEM/SOFC fuel cells and water electrolyzers• Ion-transport, gas-separation, and selective membranes for energy/CO2-related processes• Interface and defect engineering at electrode/electrolyte and catalyst/support boundaries• In-situ/operando spectroscopy, microscopy, and computational studies of energy materials• Hybrid systems integrating CO2 capture–conversion with renewable-electricity-driven storage Topic editors: Liang-Nian He, Tong Liu Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/81679/catalysis-and-materials-chemistry-for-a-carbon-neutral-energy-cycle-from-co2-valorization-to-electrochemical-energy-storage-and-conversion