Low-Temperature Plasma-Assisted Catalysis for Sustainable Nitrogen Fixation, CO₂ Conversion, and Environmental Applications

Low-temperature plasma-assisted catalysis has emerged as a promising approach for activating chemically stable molecules under non-equilibrium conditions. Unlike conventional thermal catalysis, non-thermal plasma generates energetic electrons, radicals, ions, and excited species at near-ambient temperatures, enabling reaction pathways that are difficult to achieve through thermal processes alone. In particular, plasma-driven activation of nitrogen (N₂) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) has attracted significant attention as a route toward sustainable ammonia synthesis, carbon utilization, and renewable chemical production. Recent advances in catalyst design, plasma diagnostics, reactor engineering, and computational modeling have improved the understanding of plasma-surface interactions and the mechanisms governing reaction efficiency, selectivity, and energy utilization. Nevertheless, major challenges remain in elucidating fundamental plasma-catalyst coupling mechanisms and translating laboratory-scale advances into scalable technologies for industrial implementation.

The transition toward sustainable chemical manufacturing requires energy-efficient technologies capable of activating highly stable molecules under mild operating conditions. Conventional processes for ammonia synthesis and carbon dioxide conversion remain energy-intensive and contribute substantially to global greenhouse gas emissions. Low-temperature plasma-assisted catalysis offers a complementary approach by coupling non-equilibrium plasma chemistry with heterogeneous catalysis to enable novel reaction pathways, improved selectivity, and operation under significantly milder conditions.

This Research Topic aims to bring together recent advances in the fundamental science and engineering of plasma-assisted catalytic processes for nitrogen fixation, carbon dioxide conversion, and environmentally relevant chemical transformations. Particular emphasis is placed on understanding plasma-surface interactions, reaction mechanisms, catalyst development, reactor design, plasma diagnostics, and multiscale modeling. By integrating advances in plasma physics, catalysis, materials science, and chemical engineering, this collection seeks to advance the scientific foundations of plasma-assisted catalysis while accelerating the development of scalable technologies for sustainable chemical production and environmental applications.

This Research Topic welcomes original research articles, reviews, mini-reviews, and perspectives addressing the science and engineering of low-temperature plasma-assisted catalysis. Topics of interest include plasma-assisted nitrogen fixation, carbon dioxide conversion into fuels and value-added chemicals, plasma-driven environmental remediation, catalyst synthesis and design, plasma-surface interactions, reaction mechanisms, advanced plasma diagnostics, reactor engineering, computational and multiscale modeling, process intensification, and integration with renewable energy systems.

Contributions that improve the mechanistic understanding of plasma-catalytic processes or demonstrate advances toward scalable and energy-efficient technologies are particularly encouraged. Experimental, theoretical, and computational studies are all within scope, as are interdisciplinary investigations linking plasma physics, catalysis, materials science, chemical engineering, and environmental engineering. Manuscripts presenting novel catalytic materials, reactor concepts, or mechanistic insights into plasma-assisted chemical conversion are especially welcome.

Article types and fees

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

• Brief Research Report
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• ... View all formats

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:

• Brief Research Report
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Mini Review
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Low-temperature plasma, plasma-assisted catalysis, nitrogen fixation, CO₂ reduction, environmental remediation, sustainable agriculture, biomedical plasma, nanomaterials

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.