Nanomaterials: stimulants for biofuels and renewables, yield and energy optimization

Sustainability has gained momentum due to climate change and environmental pollution. Mankind is trying to look for safer fuels to meet the energy demands and conserve the world for future generations. Biofuels, though efficient alternatives, need to be produced in enormous quantities, which are not being catered to by the present technologies. Nanoparticles as catalysts can facilitate better selectivity, yield, and quality with the existing technologies. The feedstocks for biofuel are ample and with better processing, we might be able to reduce the fossil fuel consumption substantially. In this review, discussions on potential nanoparticles, synthetic routes, growth mechanism, and characterization methods have been carried out. The effects of the structure, phase, electronic configuration, and elemental position on the catalytic properties of nanomaterials have been summarized. The contribution of novel technologies to energy optimization and the juxtaposition of hybrid nanoparticle systems for the conversion efficiency have been discussed. A critical analysis of the catalytic mechanisms of acid and base-catalyzed systems for better yield and selectivity has been given. Various biofuels and their synthetic routes are discussed with suggestions for further improvements.