Environmental pollution and energy shortage are the two major global challenges faced by human beings. The solution to the major challenges may lie in something small at nanoscale. In the past two decades, the evolution of nanotechnology represents an ever-improving process in design, discovery, creation, and novel utilization of artificial nanoscale materials. To meet the grand challenge in environmental sustainability, these nanomaterials in various hierarchical fashions are stimulating various important practical applications in environmental sector. The rapid development in materials and catalysis science has led to significant advances in understanding the controlled synthesis and structure-activity relationship of the nanomaterials. The design, synthesis, and modification of novel nanomaterials allow for enhanced performance for environmental-related applications.

The recent rapid advances in the area of nanomaterials for environmental applications inspired us to edit this special issue of Journal of Nanomaterials. We cordially invite investigators to contribute original research articles as well as review articles that will stimulate further research activities in this area and improve our understanding of the key scientific and technological problems in environmental applications of nanomaterials. We are particularly interested in articles describing the new strategies for synthesis, assembly, and modification of advanced nanomaterials with novel morphology, porous structure, and exposed active sites which greatly benefit their performance in environmental remediation, environmental catalysis, and new insights on the mechanisms of catalysis as applied to environmental problems. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Nanomaterials with novel morphology, porous structure, and exposed active sites
• Roles in degradation of pollutants, treatment of waste water and waste gas, disinfection, and wastes reutilization
• Identification of catalytic/reaction mechanisms over nanostructured catalysts
• Roles of composition, morphology, and structure of nanomaterials
• Photocatalysis and environmental chemistry
• Solar-assisted photocatalytic splitting of water and removal of pollutants
• Theoretical calculation, simulation, and modeling of nanomaterials
• CO2 capture, storage, and conversion

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