The synthesis, tailoring, and applications of nanomaterials, including metal, semiconductor, polymers et al., have attracted lots of attention for the past decades. Nowadays, for further applications, the studies on functional nanomaterials are likely to focus on boosting the properties and the atomic economy. Hence, it becomes important to investigate the mechanism and figure out the functional sites. Just like in the reported carbon-based single-atom catalysts, the catalytic site was proven as metal atoms and their coordinating atom, such as FeN4, RuN3S, and so on. Besides the carbon atom near the catalytic center also affect the capability. Such small structures affecting the function, including the reactive site and the corresponding surrounding, are defined as functional units. The studies on the functional unit would maximize the atom economy as well as provide a possibility for smart fabrication. In addition, they are also useful for getting insight into the mechanism of functional performance. However, how to characterize the functional unit is still a great challenge and it is the next science for the functional of nanomaterials.
The performances of functional material are considered depending on the active sites as well as the surrounding coordination. The special structure, including the active sites and the corresponding surrounding coordination, is defined as a functional unit. Meanwhile, a functional unit was considered as the basic element to construct a material with specific features, however, how to construct and characterize the function unit of nanomaterials remains a challenge. In this Research Topic, we hope to collect manuscripts that focus on the studies on enhanced functional properties, mechanisms as well as confining functional units of nanomaterials. Consequently, nanomaterials synthesis strategy would come into function unit designing and constructing and it would provide a “bottom-up” path for functional property tailoring. The expected manuscripts are about nanomaterial preparation, properties, and applications (mainly on photocatalysis, electrochemical catalysis, fuel cells, photo-electrochemistry, photothermal conversion, and so on), enhanced properties methods, mechanism studies, and theory.
The specific themes are listed following:
• Nanomaterials: preparation, constructing functional units
• Catalysis and photocatalysis applications of nanomaterials with confined functional unit
The synthesis, tailoring, and applications of nanomaterials, including metal, semiconductor, polymers et al., have attracted lots of attention for the past decades. Nowadays, for further applications, the studies on functional nanomaterials are likely to focus on boosting the properties and the atomic economy. Hence, it becomes important to investigate the mechanism and figure out the functional sites. Just like in the reported carbon-based single-atom catalysts, the catalytic site was proven as metal atoms and their coordinating atom, such as FeN4, RuN3S, and so on. Besides the carbon atom near the catalytic center also affect the capability. Such small structures affecting the function, including the reactive site and the corresponding surrounding, are defined as functional units. The studies on the functional unit would maximize the atom economy as well as provide a possibility for smart fabrication. In addition, they are also useful for getting insight into the mechanism of functional performance. However, how to characterize the functional unit is still a great challenge and it is the next science for the functional of nanomaterials.
The performances of functional material are considered depending on the active sites as well as the surrounding coordination. The special structure, including the active sites and the corresponding surrounding coordination, is defined as a functional unit. Meanwhile, a functional unit was considered as the basic element to construct a material with specific features, however, how to construct and characterize the function unit of nanomaterials remains a challenge. In this Research Topic, we hope to collect manuscripts that focus on the studies on enhanced functional properties, mechanisms as well as confining functional units of nanomaterials. Consequently, nanomaterials synthesis strategy would come into function unit designing and constructing and it would provide a “bottom-up” path for functional property tailoring. The expected manuscripts are about nanomaterial preparation, properties, and applications (mainly on photocatalysis, electrochemical catalysis, fuel cells, photo-electrochemistry, photothermal conversion, and so on), enhanced properties methods, mechanism studies, and theory.
The specific themes are listed following:
• Nanomaterials: preparation, constructing functional units
• Catalysis and photocatalysis applications of nanomaterials with confined functional unit