Circular Catalysis: Waste-Derived Materials for Electrocatalysis and Green Chemical Upgrading

The growing global demand to reduce the accumulation of toxic and non-biodegradable waste has accelerated the adoption of “circular chemistry” principles. This approach offers an attractive strategy for minimizing chemical waste by converting waste products into valuable feedstocks for the production of useful chemicals. In particular, waste-derived materials are increasingly being utilized in “green processes” such as electro- and photocatalysis. Current research efforts focus on developing next-generation catalysts to enable more sustainable chemical transformations, including greener synthesis methods, waste valorization, and advanced electro-catalytic and energy storage applications.

This research topic aims to showcase recent advancements, ongoing challenges, and innovative solutions in transforming waste into useful chemicals or/and converting waste materials into catalysts for green synthesis. It promotes the integration of fundamental, applied, and mechanistic research to advance circular catalysis for photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and addressing the urgent need for more sustainable production methods.

We welcome contributions across a broad spectrum of circular catalysis, including the generation of waste-derived catalysts, catalytic and electrocatalytic processes, electro/photo-catalysis, biological treatments, and related approaches. Studies that deepen our understanding of chemical reactions, molecular interactions, and waste transformation mechanisms are particularly encouraged.

This topic seeks to unite diverse perspectives from the fields of Sustainable Chemistry, Environmental Engineering, and Geochemistry to foster innovation in sustainable resource utilization and circular energy systems.

We welcome Original Research, Review, Mini Review, and Perspective articles, on topics including, but not limited to:
• Generation of waste-derived catalysts for sustainable chemical transformations and waste valorization.
• Production and application of waste-derived materials for the energy sector.
• Development of advanced waste-derived materials for environmental remediation, including (photo)(electro)(piezo)catalysis, (photo)Fenton reactions, adsorption processes, and related approaches.
• Fabrication of low-cost, waste-derived materials for circular catalysis, with an emphasis on global waste recycling.
• Sustainable strategies for pollutant remediation and resource recovery.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review

Keywords: waste valorization, catalysis, green chemistry, recycling, materials for energy and catalysis, electrocatalysis, photocatalysis

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.