Energy & sustainability journals: open calls for papers

This themed collection focuses on the application of atomistic modelling methods to the discovery and betterment of materials used in Li-ion and post-lithium (Na/K/Mg-ion) all-solid-state battery (ASSB) applications. Authors may pick from a wide range of techniques, including electronic structure theory and Density Functional Theory (DFT) to machine-learned (ML) and empirical interatomic potentials, combined with crystal structure predictions. These methods can be used to accelerate discovery of novel materials, such as electrodes and solid electrolytes, protective layers coated with atomic-layer deposition (ALD), plasma-layer deposition (PLD) or similar techniques, as well as to analyse various microscopic properties of these materials and their interfaces. We particularly look forward to the submission of manuscripts that present a collaborative work with experimentalists.

Energy Advances publishes exciting research across the spectrum of energy science, including energy storage, materials science, policy, technology, digital materials and beyond. Authors are welcome to submit original research as a Communication article or Full Paper or contribute a review article. Please contact the editorial office to register your interest or for more information. Alternatively, you can submit a manuscript below.

Manuscripts should be submitted via the Royal Society of Chemistry’s online submission service and the Editorial Office informed by email. Please state the code “YABatt24” in the “Comments to the Editor” submission question when you submit your manuscript, to indicate that this is a submission for the themed collection. The Editorial Office reserves the right to check suitability of submissions in relation to the scope of the collection and inclusion of accepted articles in the collection is not guaranteed. All manuscripts will be subject to the journal's usual peer review process. Accepted manuscripts will be added to the online collection as soon as they are online and will be published in a regular issue of Energy Advances.

What would you like to know about this journal?

This collection will be hosted by the Advances family of journals at the Royal Society of Chemistry, which publish interdisciplinary, robust science:

• RSC Advances – At the heart of open access for the global chemistry community
• Energy Advances – Cutting-edge science at the forefront of energy technology with particular focus on emerging materials and methods
• Environmental Science: Advances – Research from any discipline that will contribute to the understanding of the environment, and to the advancement of UN Sustainable Development Goals
• Materials Advances – New understanding, applications, properties and synthesis of materials
• Nanoscale Advances – Publishing across the breadth of nanoscience and nanotechnology

As Gold Open Access journals, the Advances family means maximum visibility for your work, to both subject specialists and a general audience.

Submit any time during the eligible period. Articles will be promoted and added to the collection as soon as they are accepted.

Choose one of our Advances journals above** and quote “New Principal Investigator Collection” in the submission form when it asks you if you are contributing to a themed collection.

What would you like to know about this journal?

Plasma catalysis aims to combine plasma's high reactivity with catalysts' selectivity, thus achieving the best of both worlds. However, the identification of how to realise a synergic interaction is still elusive. Fundamental and applied contributions are required to understand the process further.

EES Catalysis sits at the forefront of catalysis innovation. We champion innovation in research and seek out the most progressive studies to publish in our journal. Whether experimental or theoretical, heterogeneous or homogeneous, innovation is our main criterion. Please browse our latest papers here to discover the important research that the journal is publishing. Authors are welcome to submit original research as a Communication article or Full Paper or contribute a review article. Please contact the editorial office to register your interest or for more information. Alternatively, you can submit a manuscript below.

Manuscripts should be submitted via the Royal Society of Chemistry’s online submission service and the Editorial Office informed by email. Please state the code “EYPlasma24” in the “Comments to the Editor” submission question when you submit your manuscript, to indicate that this is a submission for the themed collection. The Editorial Office reserves the right to check suitability of submissions in relation to the scope of the collection and inclusion of accepted articles in the collection is not guaranteed. All manuscripts will be subject to the journal's usual peer review process. Accepted manuscripts will be added to the online collection as soon as they are online and will be published in a regular issue of EES Catalysis.

What would you like to know about this journal?

Preferred topics include but are not limited to:

• Alternative battery chemistries to Li including but not limited to Na, K, Al, Zn, dual ion, proton or organic batteries etc
• Li based batteries using non-critical materials to include but are not limited to alternative anodes to graphite based on abundant elements and critical metal-free cathodes including sulfur, air, etc
• High energy density batteries without excess of Li also known under the more popular name of “anode-free” or “anodeless” batteries, where the amount of Li is reduced while ideally addressing the sustainability of all other components.
• Sustainable electrolytes, including but not limited to concentrated water in salt electrolytes, sustainable (bio)polymer-based electrolytes, ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents, new organic solvents/salt electrolyte design, solid electrolytes without critical metals
• Life cycle assessment studies of Li and other battery technologies, ideally not only from a global warming perspective but also with impact on ecosystems, biodiversity, water pollution and human rights
• Assessment of metal criticality for battery research, including but not limited to a definition of criticality, geopolitical factors, and comparison of different geographic regions
• Techno economic analysis of batteries; Does more sustainable means more expensive and what are needed mitigation strategies for lowering the cost of new battery technologies?
• Manufacturing for disassembly from cell to pack level. What options are there to move away from the current unsustainable manufacturing practices?
• Electrode design for improved performance and sustainability including but not limited to new electrodes design, current collector-free electrodes, dry electrode manufacturing, nontoxic solvents and binders, tick/thin electrodes, etc
• Understanding the degradation of sustainable batteries using in operando characterisation
• Improving battery lifetime, for example, using sensors and self-healing battery components
• Industrial perspective on creating the next generation sustainable batteries
• Battery recycling of Li-ion technologies but also of merging battery technologies
• Other innovative technical strategies for sustainable batteries

The following RSC journals are supporting the collection: Green Chemistry, Journal of Material Chemistry A, Sustainable Energy & Fuels and RSC Sustainability

This call for papers is open for the following article types:

• Communications
• Full papers
• Reviews

If you would like to contribute to this themed collection, you can submit your article directly to the online submission system for Green Chemistry, Journal of Material Chemistry A, Sustainable Energy & Fuels or RSC Sustainability. Please answer the themed collection question in the submission form when uploading your files to say that this is a contribution to the Green and Sustainable Batteries Themed Collection and add a “Note to the Editor” that this is from the Open Call.

Green Chemistry is a Transformative Journal, and Plan S compliant

Great achievements have been made so far, including alternative renewable monomers derived from biomass, synthetic biodegradable polymers, and synthetic processes, such as those using molten salts, deep eutectic solvents, ionic liquids, and high-performance catalysts have shown great energy efficiency during the production of polymers. Additionally, the emergence and wide interest for circular economy principles have promoted research into the recycling (including chemical) of polymers, adding value to post-consumed polymers. Furthermore, artificial intelligence and machine learning have been offering new powerful tools for scientists and engineers to guide the design and synthesis of novel polymers, as well as to predict their properties, in order to efficiently meet the requirements for a sustainable development.

Preferred topics include but are not limited to:

• Green synthetic approaches to polymers
• Polymers derived from renewable monomers/feedstock
• Polymers from agricultural waste
• Bio-based vitrimers, thermosets and resins
• Life cycle analysis of polymers
• Polymers recycling to monomer or materials with equivalent function
• Upcycling end-of-life polymers
• Machine learning for sustainable polymers
• Ecotoxicity and toxicity of bio-derived polymers

If you would like to contribute to this themed collection, you can submit your article directly to the online submission system for Green Chemistry or Polymer Chemistry. Please answer the themed collection question in the submission form when uploading your files to say that this is a contribution to the “Make polymers sustainable, why and how?” Themed Collection and add a “Note to the Editor” that this is from the Open Call.

Green Chemistry is a Transformative Journal, and Plan S compliant

The Emerging Investigators Series has an overall objective to showcase the full diversity of cutting-edge research carried out by newer voices from across the worldwide green chemistry community.

This themed collection is an invitation-only initiative, with nominations curated by our Editorial Office. We will however consider additional applications and nominations on their own merit, and we encourage the green chemistry community to send in their nominees. Self-nominations are welcome!

In order to be eligible to feature as an Emerging Investigator, contributors must:

• Publish research within the scope of the journal.
• Have completed their PhD.
• Be actively pursuing an independent research career.
• Be at an early stage of their independent career (typically this will be within 15 years of completing their PhD, but appropriate consideration will be given to those who have taken a career break or followed a different career path).

To best meet the needs of our contributing authors, there will be no fixed deadlines. Accepted articles will be published online in a citeable form, included in the web collection and collated in an online issue as soon as they are ready. We aim to promote all the papers and authors periodically.

By contributing as a corresponding author, the researchers will be internationally recognised as outstanding emerging scientists in the field. This collection provides an excellent opportunity to raise their profile in the community, and a short profile of each researcher will be featured in the journal.

How to nominate

Nominations must be made via email to green-rsc@rsc.org including the following information about the nominee:

• Full name
• Current affiliation
• Current email address
• Researcher/group website (optional)

Green Chemistry is a Transformative Journal, and Plan S compliant

We welcome contributions in the form of Research papers, Communications, Reviews and Perspectives on topics including, but not limited to:

• CO₂ capture materials
• CO₂ conversion catalysis with thermal, electro and/or photo activation
• Catalytic membrane reactor with product separation
• Use of CO₂ as oxidant
• Integrated CO₂ capture and conversion

Submissions to the journal should fit within the scope of Journal of Materials Chemistry A, Journal of Materials Chemistry B, Biomaterials Science or Molecular Systems Design & Engineering and we encourage authors to select the journal they feel is best suited to their work – Please see the journal’s website for more information on the journal’s scope, standards, article types and author guidelines. All manuscripts will undergo the normal initial assessment and peer review processes, if appropriate, in line with the journal’s high standards, managed by the journal editors. Accepted manuscripts will be added to the online collection as soon as they are published and they will be featured in a regular issue of the relevant journal. Please note that peer review or acceptance are not guaranteed.

For this collection, we strongly encourage primary research in the way of Full Papers or Communications. If you are wanting to submit a review-type article, please check with the Editorial Office first for pre-approval and to avoid topic overlap.

If you would like to contribute to this themed collection, please submit your article directly through the journal submissions platform. Please mention that your submission is a contribution to the Engineering of soft materials for healthcare, energy and environment collection in the “Themed issues” section of the submission form and is in response to the Open Call. The Editorial Office reserves the right to check suitability of submissions in relation to the scope of both the journal and the collection, and as such inclusion of accepted articles in the final themed collection is not guaranteed.

If you have any questions about the collection or the submissions process, please do contact the Editorial Office at materialsb-rsc@rsc.org and they will be able to assist.

Journal of Materials Chemistry A is a Transformative Journal and Plan S compliant

Submissions to the collection should fit within the scope of Journal of Materials Chemistry A or Nanoscale. Please see the individual journal pages for more information on the scope, standards, article types and author guidelines.

This call for papers is open for the following article types:

• Communications
• Full papers

If you would like to contribute to this themed collection, you can submit your article directly to the online submission system for Journal of Materials Chemistry A, or Nanoscale. Please quote the code XXNanGen24 in the “Themed issues” section of the submission form and add a “Note to the Editor” that this is from the open call.

All manuscripts will undergo the normal initial assessment and peer review processes, if appropriate, in line with the journal’s high standards, managed by the journal editors. Accepted manuscripts will be added to the online collection as soon as they are published and they will be featured in a regular issue of the relevant journal. Please note that peer review or acceptance are not guaranteed.

Journal of Materials Chemistry A is a Transformative Journal and Plan S compliant

Submissions to the journal should contain chemistry in the context of a material and should fit within the scope of Journal of Materials Chemistry C or Journal of Materials Chemistry A. Please see the journal’s page for more information on the journal’s scope, standards, article types and author guidelines.

This call for papers is open for the following article types:

• Communications
• Full papers

If you would like to contribute to this themed collection, you can submit your article directly to the online submission system for Journal of Materials Chemistry C or Journal of Materials Chemistry A. Please mention that this submission is a contribution to the Molecular Photoswitches for Energy storage in the “Themed issues” section of the submission form and add a “Note to the Editor” that this is from the Open Call.

Journal of Materials Chemistry A is a Transformative Journal and Plan S compliant

Emerging Investigators should be at an early stage of their independent career (this should typically be within 12 years of attaining their doctorate or equivalent degree but appropriate consideration is given to those who have taken a career break, work in systems where their time period to independence may vary or who followed an alternative study path).

Manuscripts should be submitted via the Royal Society of Chemistry’s online submission service and the Editorial Office informed by email. Please add a “note to the editor” in the submission form when you submit your manuscript to say that this is a submission for the themed collection. The Editorial Office reserves the right to check suitability of submissions in relation to the scope of the collection and inclusion of accepted articles in the collection is not guaranteed. All manuscripts will be subject to the journal's usual peer review process. Accepted manuscripts will be added to the online collection as soon as they are online and they will be published in a regular issue of MSDE.

MSDE is a Transformative Journal and Plan S compliant

Submissions to the journal should fit within the scope of Journal of Materials Chemistry A, Journal of Materials Chemistry B, Biomaterials Science or Molecular Systems Design & Engineering and we encourage authors to select the journal they feel is best suited to their work – Please see the journal’s website for more information on the journal’s scope, standards, article types and author guidelines. All manuscripts will undergo the normal initial assessment and peer review processes, if appropriate, in line with the journal’s high standards, managed by the journal editors. Accepted manuscripts will be added to the online collection as soon as they are published and they will be featured in a regular issue of the relevant journal. Please note that peer review or acceptance are not guaranteed.

For this collection, we strongly encourage primary research in the way of Full Papers or Communications. If you are wanting to submit a review-type article, please check with the Editorial Office first for pre-approval and to avoid topic overlap.

If you would like to contribute to this themed collection, please submit your article directly through the journal submissions platform. Please mention that your submission is a contribution to the Engineering of soft materials for healthcare, energy and environment collection in the “Themed issues” section of the submission form and is in response to the Open Call. The Editorial Office reserves the right to check suitability of submissions in relation to the scope of both the journal and the collection, and as such inclusion of accepted articles in the final themed collection is not guaranteed.

If you have any questions about the collection or the submissions process, please do contact the Editorial Office at materialsb-rsc@rsc.org and they will be able to assist.

MSDE is a Transformative Journal and Plan S compliant

Scientists all over the globe are developing innovative technologies that will be key in achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. At the same time, some scientific research is contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, plastic waste, and other environmental issues. This presents many challenges as well as opportunities for researchers, who are increasingly aware of the environmental footprint of their work.

You and your research have the power to make the world a better place. If you’re looking into developing new sustainable technologies or finding cleaner chemical solutions, then we want to hear from you. RSC Sustainability is a dedicated forum for your quality discoveries, offering a space for research to grow and make an impact around the globe.

Preferred topics include but are not limited to:

• Alternative battery chemistries to Li including but not limited to Na, K, Al, Zn, dual ion, proton or organic batteries etc
• Li based batteries using non-critical materials to include but are not limited to alternative anodes to graphite based on abundant elements and critical metal-free cathodes including sulfur, air, etc
• High energy density batteries without excess of Li also known under the more popular name of “anode-free” or “anodeless” batteries, where the amount of Li is reduced while ideally addressing the sustainability of all other components.
• Sustainable electrolytes, including but not limited to concentrated water in salt electrolytes, sustainable (bio)polymer-based electrolytes, ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents, new organic solvents/salt electrolyte design, solid electrolytes without critical metals.
• Life cycle assessment studies of Li and other battery technologies, ideally not only from a global warming perspective but also with impact on ecosystems, biodiversity, water pollution and human rights.
• Assessment of metal criticality for battery research, including but not limited to a definition of criticality, geopolitical factors, and comparison of different geographic regions.
• Techno economic analysis of batteries; Does more sustainable means more expensive and what are needed mitigation strategies for lowering the cost of new battery technologies?
• Manufacturing for disassembly from cell to pack level. What options are there to move away from the current unsustainable manufacturing practices?
• Electrode design for improved performance and sustainability including but not limited to new electrodes design, current collector-free electrodes, dry electrode manufacturing, nontoxic solvents and binders, tick/thin electrodes, etc
• Understanding the degradation of sustainable batteries using in operando characterisation.
• Improving battery lifetime, for example, using sensors and self-healing battery components.
• Industrial perspective on creating the next generation sustainable batteries.
• Battery recycling of Li-ion technologies but also of merging battery technologies.
• Other innovative technical strategies for sustainable batteries.

The following RSC journals are supporting the collection: Green Chemistry, Journal of Material Chemistry A, Sustainable Energy & Fuels and RSC Sustainability

This call for papers is open for the following article types:

• Communications
• Full papers
• Reviews

If you would like to contribute to this themed collection, you can submit your article directly to the online submission system for Green Chemistry, Journal of Material Chemistry A, Sustainable Energy & Fuels or RSC Sustainability. Please answer the themed collection question in the submission form when uploading your files to say that this is a contribution to the Green and Sustainable Batteries Themed Collection and add a “Note to the Editor” that this is from the Open Call.

Topics for this collection include, but are not limited to:

• Biomass as a feedstock
• CO₂ as a feedstock
• Plastic waste as a feedstock
• Methanol as a feedstock
• Use of renewable electricity in chemical industries
• Renewable carbon materials
• Use of hydrogen in chemical industries
• Renewable oxidising and reducing agents
• Carbon capture

The collection welcomes contributions from industry and policy perspectives, as well as academic perspectives and can publish both review articles and primary research. Studies concerning Life Cycle Assessments and Techno-Economic Analyses are also welcome.

If you would like your manuscript to considered for this collection, indicate the collection title and shortcode, SUDefoss24, on the online submission form.

Topics for this collection include, but are not limited to:

• Hydrogen and oxygen reactions (i.e. hydrogen evolution reaction, hydrogen oxidation reaction, oxygen reduction reaction, oxygen evolution reaction)
• CO₂ reduction
• Nitrogen-based compound synthesis
• Biomass conversion
• Energy storage applications
• Sustainable design of electrocatalysts for energy conversion reactions

The collection welcomes contributions from industry and policy perspectives, as well as academic perspectives and can publish both review articles and primary research.

If you would like your manuscript to considered for this collection, indicate the collection title and shortcode, SUEleCat24, on the online submission form.

This themed collection will accept Perspective articles. Perspective articles can be written through the lens of an individual or company on a topic of interest to the readership of the journal. Primary research papers are not within the scope of this collection, but we welcome primary research to the journal outside of this themed collection.

Perspectives on any topic relating to the relationship between chemical industry and Sustainable and Green Chemistry are welcome.

To have your Perspective considered for this collection, indicate the collection title and shortcode, SUIndPer24, on the online submission form.

Manuscripts should be submitted via the Royal Society of Chemistry’s online submission service and the Editorial Office informed by email. Please add the themed collection code “SEMFree23” when prompted at submission. The Editorial Office reserves the right to check the suitability of submissions in relation to the scope of the collection and the inclusion of accepted articles in the collection is not guaranteed. Please also note that all submissions will be subject to initial assessment and rigorous peer review to meet the usual high standards of Sustainable Energy & Fuels. All manuscripts will be subject to the journal's usual peer-review process. Accepted manuscripts will be added to the online collection as soon as they are online and they will be published in a regular issue of Sustainable Energy & Fuels.

Authors are welcome to submit original research as a Communication article or Full Paper or contribute a Review or Perspective article. Please email the editorial office to register your interest or for more information. Alternatively, you can submit a manuscript below.

Sustainable Energy & Fuels is a Transformative Journal, and Plan S compliant

Preferred topics include but are not limited to:

• Alternative battery chemistries to Li including but not limited to Na, K, Al, Zn, dual ion, proton or organic batteries etc
• Li based batteries using non-critical materials to include but not limited to alternative anodes to graphite based on abundant elements and critical metal free cathodes including sulfur, air, etc
• High energy density batteries without excess of Li also known under the more popular name of “anode-free” or “anodeless” batteries, where the amount of Li is reduced while ideally addressing the sustainability of all other components.
• Sustainable electrolytes, including but not limited to concentrated water in salt electrolytes, sustainable (bio)polymer-based electrolytes, ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents, new organic solvents/salt electrolyte design, solid electrolytes without critical metals.
• Life cycle assessment studies of Li and other battery technologies, ideally not only from a global warming perspective but also with impact on ecosystems, biodiversity, water pollution and human rights
• Assessment of metal criticality for battery research, including but not limited to a definition of criticality, geopolitical factors, and comparison of different geographic regions.
• Techno economic analysis of batteries; Does more sustainable means more expensive and what are needed mitigation strategies for lowering the cost of new battery technologies?
• Manufacturing for disassembly from cell to pack level. What options are there to move away from the current unsustainable manufacturing practices?
• Electrode design for improved performance and sustainability including but not limited to new electrodes design, current collector-free electrodes, dry electrode manufacturing, nontoxic solvents and binders, tick/thin electrodes, etc
• Understanding the degradation of sustainable batteries using in operando characterisation
• Improving battery lifetime, for example using sensors and self-healing battery components
• Industrial perspective on creating the next generation sustainable batteries.
• Battery recycling of Li ion technologies but also of merging battery technologies
• Other innovative technical strategies for sustainable batteries
   
  The following RSC journals are supporting the collection: Green Chemistry, Journal of Material Chemistry A, Sustainable Energy & Fuels and RSC Sustainability

This call for papers is open for the following article types:

• Communications
• Full papers
• Reviews
  
  If you would like to contribute to this themed collection, you can submit your article directly to the online submission system for Green Chemistry, Journal of Material Chemistry A, Sustainable Energy & Fuels or RSC Sustainability. Please answer the themed collection question in the submission form when uploading your files to say that this is a contribution to the Green and Sustainable Batteries Themed Collection and add a “Note to the Editor” that this is from the Open Call.

Sustainable Energy & Fuels is a Transformative Journal, and Plan S compliant

Manuscripts should be submitted via the Royal Society of Chemistry’s online submission service and the Editorial Office informed by email. Please add the themed collection code “SEBeyond24” when prompted at submission. The Editorial Office reserves the right to check the suitability of submissions in relation to the scope of the collection and the inclusion of accepted articles in the collection is not guaranteed. Please also note that all submissions will be subject to initial assessment and rigorous peer review to meet the usual high standards of Sustainable Energy & Fuels. All manuscripts will be subject to the journal's usual peer-review process. Accepted manuscripts will be added to the online collection as soon as they are online and they will be published in a regular issue of Sustainable Energy & Fuels.

Authors are welcome to submit original research as a Communication article or Full Paper or contribute a Review or Perspective article. Please contact the editorial office to register your interest or for more information. Alternatively, you can submit a manuscript below.

Sustainable Energy & Fuels is a Transformative Journal, and Plan S compliant

Emerging Investigators should be at an early stage of their independent career (this should typically be within 10 years of attaining their doctorate or equivalent degree but appropriate consideration is given to those who have taken a career break, work in systems where their time period to independence may vary or who followed an alternative study path).

Manuscripts should be submitted via the Royal Society of Chemistry’s online submission service and the Editorial Office informed by email. Please add a “note to the editor” in the submission form when you submit your manuscript to say that this is a submission for the themed collection. The Editorial Office reserves the right to check the suitability of submissions in relation to the scope of the collection and inclusion of accepted articles in the collection is not guaranteed. All manuscripts will be subject to the journal's usual peer review process. Accepted manuscripts will be added to the online collection as soon as they are online and they will be published in a regular issue of Sustainable Energy & Fuels.

Sustainable Energy & Fuels is a Transformative Journal, and Plan S compliant

The integration of digital technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), within the food and beverage industries has garnered significant attention in recent years. This embrace of computer vision, machine learning, deep learning, sensor arrays, robotics, biometrics, and remote sensing has ushered in a new era of efficiency and innovation. However, alongside these advancements, the imperative of sustainability has emerged as a crucial consideration.

In the context of food production, the application of these cutting-edge technologies takes on added significance. Beyond merely expediting processes and enhancing product assessment, there's a growing emphasis on sustainability throughout the production lifecycle. From monitoring processes to assessing final product quality and acceptability, the integration of digital tools allows for more precise control and resource optimization.

This Special Issue seeks to spotlight research and papers that explore the intersection of digital technologies and food production with a keen eye toward sustainability. Contributions may delve into various aspects, including the optimization of processing performance, the enhancement of product quality, and the development of more sustainable production methods. Parameters such as physicochemical properties, the evaluation of volatile compounds, chemical fingerprinting, and sensory profiles are of particular interest, both from expert panels and consumer perspectives.

Moreover, this issue welcomes contributions that explore the automation and integration of these technologies, leveraging AI and Digital Twins to not only streamline processes but also to minimize waste and environmental impact based on in silico methods. By fostering dialogue and innovation in this space, we aim to catalyse the development of sustainable practices that benefit both industry and the planet.

What would you like to know about Sustainable Food Technology?

Sustainability in food processing encompasses a wide range of considerations, including energy efficiency, water conservation, waste reduction, and the preservation of nutritional value. Traditional thermal processing methods, while effective for ensuring food safety, often come at a high energy cost and can lead to significant quality degradation. These methods typically require large amounts of water and energy, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and resource depletion. Moreover, the high temperatures used in conventional thermal processing can result in the loss of heat-sensitive nutrients, negatively impacting the nutritional profile of processed foods.

In response to these challenges, there has been a growing interest in non-thermal food processing technologies. These innovative methods offer the potential to significantly reduce energy consumption, minimize water usage, and better preserve the nutritional and sensory qualities of food products. Non-thermal technologies, such as High Pressure Processing (HPP), Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF), Cold Plasma Treatment, Ultrasound Processing, Pulsed Light Technology, Irradiation, Ozone Treatment, Electrolyzed Water Treatment among others, operate at or near ambient temperatures, allowing for microbial inactivation and enzyme deactivation without subjecting food to excessive heat.

As we move forward, research and development in non-thermal food processing will play a crucial role in advancing sustainable practices in the food industry. By focusing on optimizing these technologies for various food products, improving their energy efficiency, and demonstrating their effectiveness in ensuring food safety while maintaining quality, we can pave the way for a more sustainable future in food processing.

This special issue on "Advances in Non-thermal Food Processing" aims to contribute to this important field by bringing together cutting-edge research and insights. By exploring the latest developments in non-thermal technologies, their mechanisms of action, impacts on food quality and safety, and potential for industrial application, we hope to accelerate the transition towards more sustainable food processing methods.

What would you like to know about Sustainable Food Technology?