Functionalization of Porous Materials for Sustainable Energy Applications

Variable-property materials (VPMs) are materials whose properties can be tuned in response to external stimuli or internal dynamics. This family of materials with structure, flexibility, and adaptivity have been used to enhance energy storage and conversion capabilities. Researchers use the nature-inspired design and fabrication strategies to produce VPMs with tunable reactivity, stoichiometry, and selectivity for many fields, with a focus on sustainable energy.

This Research Topic welcomes scientists, engineers, and stakeholders who are interested in high energy density battery technology, solar energy (photovoltaic), fuel cells, capacitors, and clean fuels (including hydrogen production and storage; carbon capture and sequestration; and green ammonium formation). Translation research into practical applications and scaling up innovation is also welcomed to meet global challenges in sustainable energy, achieving zero-emission goals.

The overarching goal of this Research Topic lies in the exploration of nature-inspired, variable-property materials and their potential applications in sustainable emerging energy systems to contribute to net-zero emission and further advance a circular economy.

The topics of the invited papers will focus on the latest research discoveries and leading-edge concepts in developing new and innovative solutions to address the challenges in sustainable energy fields with an emphasis on novel materials design and evaluation, device performance, and energy conversion efficiency through collaboration of researchers from different countries. The invited authors will have the opportunity to showcase their knowledge and experiences in improving materials design, device construction and their performance.

The scope of this Research Topic is designed to promote community building to drive the development of new technologies and approaches using VPMs, in sustainable energy production, and to identify new opportunities in the field. The topics are suggested, but not limited to the following:

• Nature-inspired variable-property materials
• Hydrogen production and utilization
• CO2 capture and sequestration
• Sustainable biofuel
• Energy storage and conversion systems

This Topic accepts Original Research, Review, and Perspective articles.

Keywords: Nano-structural design, Porous materials, Functionalization, Sustainability, Carbon neutrality, Emerging energy

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.