The materials produced on nanoscale have a new set of properties. Nanotechnology and nanomaterials have positively affected the human lifestyle. It has an impact on agricultural, energy, petroleum, sports, chemical and catalysis, environmental, paints and coating, medical, beauty, and textile sectors. Feeding the increasing needs of the population has given rise to different innovations in various sectors. The agricultural sector also has benefitted from such innovations. Nanotechnology and nanomaterials have come to the rescue of the farmers. Micronutrients are supplied to the crops through fertilizers. Nanomaterials are explored for fuel borne catalysis for soot prevention. Nanoparticle reinforced tires have greater abrasive resistance and gas permeability. Nanoparticles are used in coating for better gloss, scratch and corrosion resistance, and anti-fog coatings. Nanoparticles and nanomaterials like cubosomes, nanodots, liposomes, dendrimers, nano-emulsions have become common ingredients in cosmetics.
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Advancements in technologies are touching the human life across the world. The technology has enabled human beings to modify plants, animals and materials, according to their needs. The research and investigations in biotechnology, nanotechnology and environmental technology have become very important areas of research. Bionanotechnology has potential to manipulate the plants and animal for better productivity and yield. Nanotechnology is being explored in various applications ranging from chemical engineering to farming. Environmental technology has gained importance due to increasing need to develop the materials and processes with sustainable approach. If we look carefully at these three fields, they can be integrated to provide sustainable solutions to many material synthesis and waste treatment problems. Nanotechnology is being explored due to its huge potential and endless possibilities.
“The technology in which the materials and systems are designed, synthesized, characterized and utilized by facilitating control over their size in nanoscale(1 to 100 nm)”, can be termed as nanotechnology(Kreyling et al., 2010). For fabrication of nanomaterials, two approaches, namely top down and bottom up, are employed(Chaudhary et al., 2016). Carbon nanotubes are replacing silicon chip due to their semiconducting properties with better performance.
The material when disintegrated to nanosize, exhibits different properties than the original material like gold and its nano-counterpart. Gold is shiny yellow metal that absorbs green light when disintegrated to 10 nm and appears red(Roduner, 2006). The nanomaterial can be defined as the one that has minimum one dimension less than 100 nm. (Vollath, 2008). Green nanotechnology focuses on synthesis and application of nanotechnology in sustainable manner (Mahajan et al., 20022). Green synthesis of nanomaterial is widely explored. Surface reactivity and properties of nanomaterials can be enhanced by functionalization. Carbon nanotubes are functionalized by bromine (Mazov et al., 2009). Direct or indirect functionalization methods can be used for nanomaterials. Direct functionalizations include covalent, non-covalent, inorganic, doping of heteroatoms and mediated by immobilization (Mahajan et al., 2022). Grafting is indirect method of functionalization. Nanotechnology and nanomaterials have positively affected the lifestyle of human. It has impact on agricultural, energy, petroleum, sports, chemical and catalysis, environmental, paints and coating, medical, beauty and textile sectors. Over next 30 years global energy demand is predicted to increase by 60%(Esmaeili, 2011). One way to partially counter this issue is, use of effective transmission of energy. Nanotechnology can provide solutions to the issuesconcerningaccess to stranded natural-gas resources.Development of nanocatalysts and nanoscale membranes for gas to liquid production can serve this purpose(Esmaeili, 2011). Nanostructured material can be developed for transport of compressed-natural-gas or electricity transmission between long distance points. In oil industry, for offshore drilling, light weight, stronger, and more corrosion-resistant structural materials can be used in platforms. Investigators have reported 50% reduction in urea requirement by using Hydroxypatite Nanoparticle with urea (Kottegoda et al.,2017). However, some experts have expressed concerns about acute health effects of Hydroxypatite Nanoparticles (Suppan, 2017; Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, 2016).
Nanoparticles are nanosize particles with three external dimensions of nanosize, whereas nanomaterials have any internal or external structure with nanosize(Dobson et al., 2019). In nanomaterials at least one dimension is of 1 to 100 nm size(Armarego, 2022). Nanoparticles are isolated solid phase objects of size 1 to 100 nm. Carbon nanotubes, graphene, nanowire and fullerenes are examples of nanomaterials. Zinc sulphide, cadmium sulphide, gold, silver and aluminium are examples of nanoparticles. Nanomaterials are made from nanoparticles. In nanocomposites, one of the phases have at least one dimension in nano range of 1 to 100 nm. The nanocomposites are classified metal matrix, ceramic and polymer matrix (Ducheyne,2015; Pacheco and Buzea, 2021; Malhotra, et al., 2018).