Call for papers - Opening the way to a future based on green chemistry for sustainable and renewable energy

Guest Editors

Chunjiang An, PhD, Eng, Concordia University, Canada
Simona M. Coman, PhD, University of Bucharest, Romania
Patricia Vázquez, PhD, National University of La Plata, Argentina

Submission Status: Open | Submission Deadline: 15 September 2025

BMC Chemistry is calling for submissions to our Collection on the application of green chemistry principles in the development of sustainable and renewable energy technologies. We welcome submissions that explore the environmental impact, technological innovations, policy implications, and economic potential of green chemistry solutions in the energy sector, with the aim of advancing the transition towards a more sustainable and cleaner energy landscape.

New Content Item This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG 13: Climate Action.

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Meet the Guest Editors

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Chunjiang An, PhD, Eng, Concordia University, Canada

Dr Chunjiang An is an Associate Professor in the Department of Building, Civil, and Environmental Engineering at Concordia University and Concordia University Research Chair in Spill Response and Remediation. His research interests include a broad range of topics related to pollution control, risk assessment, and systems analysis. Dr An is a licensed professional engineer, associate editor, editorial board member of 12 international journals, and guest editor for 11 special issues in some international journals. Dr An has published over 210 peer-reviewed journal articles. Significant research grants from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Natural Resources Canada, and Environment and Climate Change Canada have supported Dr An's interdisciplinary activities.

Simona M. Coman, PhD, University of Bucharest, Romania

Prof Simona M. Coman received her PhD in Chemistry from the University of Bucharest in 2001. In 2008, he became a Full Professor at the Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Catalysis at the Faculty of Chemistry, University of Bucharest. She completed postdoctoral research in Belgium at UC Louvain-la-Neuve and in Germany at HU Berlin, where she was a research fellow of the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. She also conducted research at KU Leuven, Belgium. In 2018, she obtained a Habilitation Certificate in Chemistry from the University of Bucharest. She is a member of the Doctoral School in Chemistry and the Faculty of Chemistry. She has co-authored over 130 scientific papers, including 116 ISI-indexed publications, two books, ten book chapters, and 1 European patent. Additionally, she has contributed to over 180 international conferences. In 2012, she was awarded the prestigious “Gheorghe Spacu” award from the Romanian Academy for her significant contributions to developing solid catalysts for environmental protection.

Patricia Vázquez, PhD, National University of La Plata, Argentina

Dr Patricia Vázquez obtained her PhD from the University of San Luis, Argentina. She is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Sciences Exacts, University of La Plata, and a Principal Researcher at CONICET (Argentina). Throughout her 30-year career in CONICET, she has published more than 130 journal articles, 12 book chapters, and 5 academic books, including IUPAC, a titular member of the Green Chemistry Commission. Currently, her Scopus h-index is 30. She secured and utilized over thirty research grants, both national and international, to support her team's research activities and received ten national awards for her research output. Additionally, she has supervised more than 15 graduate students and fellows from her home country and internationally. Her main research areas are nanoparticles, biomaterials, and advanced materials for catalysts, which is the topic of antimicrobial fabric. Recently, she has been busy working in the social technology area within the United Nations SDGs.

About the Collection

BMC Chemistry is calling for submissions to our Collection on Opening the way to a future based on green chemistry for sustainable and renewable energy.

Sustainable and renewable energy is a critical component of environmental well-being, with profound implications for global ecological health and the mitigation of climate change.

Green chemistry plays a fundamental role in the design of biomaterials or biopolymers using different chemical processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances. This area has become a research discipline with strict properties, for example, the synthesis of biocatalysts for obtaining sustainable and renewable energy.

It is important for us to continue advancing our collective understanding in this area to drive the transition towards a more sustainable and renewable energy landscape. Recent advances have demonstrated the potential of green chemistry to contribute to the development of cleaner and more efficient energy technologies, with a focus on reducing environmental impact and promoting sustainable practices. Additionally, research has highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the integration of green chemistry principles into energy policy and industry practices.

This Collection aims to gather research that explores the application of green chemistry principles in the development of sustainable energy technologies, including the development of new materials, process optimization, energy storage, and conversion technologies, and policy and regulatory frameworks.

We invite submissions that contribute to our understanding of green chemistry in sustainable and renewable energy, including research related to:

Green chemistry approaches to carbon capture and utilization and for biofuels.
Integration of renewable energy sources with green chemistry processes.
Sustainable energy technologies.
Environmental impact and emissions reduction.
Policy, regulation, and government incentives supporting green chemistry initiatives.
Process optimization for reduced environmental impact.
Economic impact and market potential.
Addressing environmental justice and improving access to sustainable energy solutions.
Training and education for chemists and engineers in green chemistry principles.
Bio-based materials as a sustainable resource to meet energy needs.

This Collection is aligned with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and the 169 targets of the new agenda that will be monitored and reviewed globally through a set of global indicators. This Collection will focus on SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG 13: Climate Action. Coal, oil, and gas are the primary sources of electric energy, but their burning produces large amounts of greenhouse gases, which cause climate change and harm the well-being of people and the environment. To ensure everyone can access electric energy by 2030, we must accelerate electrification, increase investments in renewable energy, improve energy efficiency, and develop enabling policies and regulatory frameworks.

There are currently no articles in this collection.

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of original Research Articles. Should you wish to submit a different article type, please read our submission guidelines to confirm that type is accepted by the journal. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system, Snapp. During the submission process you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select Opening the way to a future based on green chemistry for sustainable and renewable energy from the dropdown menu.

Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process and are subject to all of the journal’s standard policies. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.

The Editors have no competing interests with the submissions which they handle through the peer review process. The peer review of any submissions for which the Editors have competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member who has no competing interests.