Nanotechnology: A Quick Guide to Materials and Technologies

Nanomaterials have emerged as transformative agents in the realm of smart devices, enabling revolutionary advancements and applications. At the nanoscale, materials exhibit unique properties that differentiate them from their bulk counterparts, offering exceptional opportunities for enhancing the performance, functionality, and miniaturization of smart devices. The present chapter delves into the significant contributions of nanomaterials in the development of smart devices. Nanotechnology's ability to engineer materials at the atomic and molecular level has led to the creation of nanomaterials with precisely tailored properties. These nanoscale wonders have found applications in diverse fields, including electronics, healthcare, energy, and environmental monitoring. The integration of nanomaterials in smart devices has unlocked unprecedented opportunities for innovation. Nanoscale sensors with heightened sensitivity and selectivity have transformed devices into intelligent perceivers of the environment. Additionally, nanomaterials have revolutionized energy storage, enabling longer-lasting batteries and supercapacitors with higher energy density. Furthermore, nanomaterials play a pivotal role in advancing smart displays, wearable technology, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. The seamless connectivity and improved performance offered by nanomaterials have paved the way for a more connected and efficient world. Additionally, this chapter emphasizes the immense potential of nanomaterials in shaping the future of smart devices, making them more adaptive, energy-efficient, and capable of transforming our daily lives. However, responsible implementation and safety considerations are essential for harnessing the full potential of nanomaterials and ensuring sustainable and secure technological advancements.

The physical and chemical characteristics of semiconductor materials radically alter as their size is shrunk to the nanoscale, giving rise to unusual traits because of their enormous surface area or quantum size effect. Despite being at the research stage right now, semiconductor nanomaterials and devices hold great promise for use in a variety of sectors, including solar cells, nanoscale electronics, lightemitting nanodevices, laser technology, waveguides, pharmaceuticals, and biosensors. The semiconductors will undoubtedly experience substantial advancements as nanotechnology continues to advance. The entire mechanism is regulated with the help of band theory, which includes valence band, conduction band and an energy gap, also considered forbidden gaps. These semiconductors when converted into nano sizes are corresponded to nanoparticles, which have the potential to accommodate various functionalities due to the reduced size, which increases the surface area for better function, adsorption, efficiency, and other things as discussed in the book chapter. This chapter also focuses on some of the most important activities now underway and problems that must be solved to enhance nanostructures and nanodevices based on semiconductors.

As the catastrophic effects of global energy are becoming severe day by day, researchers are focusing on adapting environmental sustainability in order to restore the natural habitat of the planet. Photocatalysis is an environmentally benign approach to combating various non-sustainable operations via green chemistry. Photocatalysis comprises the change in the kinetics of chemical transformations by the absorption of light. Photocatalysis is the promising route of producing green hydrogen via overall water splitting without any toxic by-products. Verily, photocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide is another significant sustainable operation that ascertains its sequestration and conversion into value-added chemical feedstock and fuels. These highly sought photocatalytic applications demand unique multifunctional nano catalytic systems that can effectively carry out these sustainable operations due to their advanced optoelectronic and morphological properties alongside having higher exposed active sites. Realizing the potential of nanostructures in the field of photocatalysis, we have synergistically emphasized both these topics in this book chapter under the light of the classification of nanostructures and two vital photocatalytic applications of hydrogen evolution and carbon dioxide mitigation.

The last ten years have seen the greatest amount of research on nanomaterials due to their numerous applications. Nanomaterials are utilised in both home and industrial settings. The growing need for materials that are both lightweight and strong has led to the emergence of polymer composites as a specialty area in the field of materials research. A novel type of composite material called polymer nanocomposites uses inorganic nanoparticles scattered across an organic polymer matrix to enhance certain performance characteristics. Excellent characteristics of polymer nanocomposites include electrical characteristics, barrier resistance, and magnetic efficiency. greater rigidity, greater fire resistance, increased thermal and dimensional stability, superior optical characteristics, and improved barrier effect are the main benefits of polymer nanocomposites. A polymer serves as the matrix of polymer nanocomposites, which are mixtures of two or more components, where the dispersion phase has at least one dimension smaller than 100 nm. Due to their distinctive design feasibility and remarkable property combinations, polymer nanocomposites are employed in a variety of applications, including water treatment, gas separation, food packaging, sports equipment, the automotive industry, biomedicine and everyday life.

Nanocatalysis represents a burgeoning field of study that is used across a wide range of catalytic organic reactions. The significance of nanotechnology is progressively growing in various industrial sectors as well as in academic research. The enhancement of catalytic selectivity and activity in nanocatalysts is observed as the size of the catalyst decreases and the surface area-to-volume ratio increases. Similarly, the morphology of particles plays a crucial role in influencing the activity and selectivity of nanocatalysts. Various types of nanocatalysts have been documented, encompassing single-metal nanocatalysts, simple/mixed metal-oxide derived nanocatalysts, and carbon-based nanocatalysts. Nanocatalysts based on noble, rare earth and transition metals have been extensively investigated in both industrial and academic areas. This is primarily due to their significant application in various chemical reactions, including carbon-heteroatom cross-coupling reactions, carbon-carbon homocoupling reactions, carbon-carbon cross-coupling reactions, esterification, C-H activation, hydrogenation, oxidation, and reduction. Currently, the analysis is centered on most recent advancements and potential applications of nanocatalysts in various chemical processes.

Carbon, having 6 electrons, shows sp1 , sp2 and sp3 hybridization to produce novel allotropes. Since the recent discoveries of fullerenes in 1985, carbon nanotubes in 1991 and graphene in 2004, there is immense regard for the amazing physical and chemical properties of carbon nanomaterials, promoting the growth of techniques for large-scale manufacturing. Carbon nanomaterials have been the subject of extensive scientific study all around the world due to their important structural dimensions and excellent chemical, mechanical, electrical, optical, magnetic, catalytic and thermal properties different from bulk counterparts. The carbon nanomaterials with 0, 1, 2 and 3 dimensions (carbon black, nanodiamonds, fullerenes, carbon quantum dots, carbon nano-horns, carbon nanofibers, carbon nanotubes and graphene) have shown such built-in properties that are easily exploitable in cutting edge technology for a numerous application. Applications in technology, medicine, environment and agriculture are all part of the ever-expanding commercial use of carbon nanomaterials. In this chapter, brief history and recent advancements in carbon nanomaterials specifically fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, graphene, carbon quantum dots, and nanodiamonds have been thoroughly reviewed. Along with their methods of synthesis, future prospects and opportunities in a variety of industries have also been discussed. Significant applications of different carbon materials in important areas have been highlighted. A summary of toxic effects of carbon nanomaterials on biological systems has also been given to support wise usage and careful handling.

 In view of the progression in the field of science to investigate the evolution of nanomaterial and their applications, the research seems to have been limited in providing a complete understanding of the fabrication conditions and characterizations primarily on the basis of experimental methods. The computational approaches are found to be more effective in predicting the growth conditions and the relative characterizations for the required structure. Moreover, the software counterpart for the design of structure is considered one of the most convenient approaches to estimate the process conditions in a well define way before proceeding with the complexities of the experimental trials. Another aspect of accepting the computation approach is to understand and explore the expected outcome from a structural analysis. In the present chapter, the key role of modelling and simulations in the advanced research and development at the structural level of the nanomaterial and the nanomaterial-based devices has been discussed in order to provide a guide to choose and explore a variety of software and theories for simulating or design.

 The urgent need to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources in the twenty-first century has been driven by rising fuel prices and the escalating greenhouse effect caused by carbon dioxide emissions. Recent advancements in photovoltaic (PV) solar cell technology offer hope for meeting this demand using sustainable energy sources. Significant advancements have been achieved in the field, indicating numerous possibilities to address the ongoing global energy crisis. Carbon nanomaterials, including graphene, carbon nanotubes, and fullerene, have emerged as splendid applicants for photovoltaic solar cells. These materials are abundant on Earth, possess remarkable electrical properties, exhibit eminent optical absorption, and demonstrate paramount thermal and photostability. Graphene-based solar cells have already achieved notable breakthroughs in PV technology. However, reducing manufacturing costs through the utilization of cost-effective nanostructured materials and processes remains a crucial concern. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of various types of PV technologies using carbon-based materials.

 The issue of water contamination has emerged as one of the primary problems of the current century. The discharge of hazardous contaminants, rapid industrialization, and unrestricted population rise lead to the degradation of water purity. This chapter explores the nanomaterials in water purification and aims to address the critical need for efficient and sustainable water treatment solutions. With the increasing global demand for clean water, traditional treatment methods are often limited in their ability to remove emerging contaminants and often do not meet stringent quality standards. Nanomaterials have emerged as potential candidates for improving water treatment procedures because of their special features, including high efficacy, better selectivity, good stability, high surface area, eco-friendliness, and high population growth. Adsorption, photocatalysis, membrane filtration processes, and other techniques enable the effective removal of harmful contaminants from industrial waste, groundwater, and surface water by nanomaterials. The chapter’s aim is to gain comprehension of the application of nanomaterials that contain metals and metal oxides-based nanoparticles, carbon-based, composites, and dendrimers-based nanoparticles. Their use as adsorbents, photocatalysts, and membrane filters for effective and targeted removal of toxic waste has received a lot of focus at the same time. Adsorption, photocatalysis, and membrane filtration methods are discussed in detail for their usage in water purification. To illustrate the potential risks involved with nanomaterials, practical applications such as waste management and environmental effects are also taken into account. Additionally, it critically evaluates the difficulties and opportunities associated with using nanomaterials in industrial wastewater purification.

This chapter provides an updated overview of rare-earth-based multiferroic perovskites and their diverse range of applications. Multiferroic materials exhibit simultaneous ferroelectric and ferromagnetic properties, making them highly attractive for various technological applications. The design of functional materials is challenging to tune the properties and applications. Rare earth-based perovskites, in particular, offer unique properties due to the combination of rare earth elements and the perovskite crystal structure. This chapter explores the synthesis methods, characterization techniques, and emerging applications of rare earth-based multiferroic perovskites, highlighting recent advancements in the field.

Humidity sensors are critical in a wide range of applications ranging from automotive, biomedical, chemical, and electronics industries, to scientific research laboratories. Here we discussed widely acclaimed synthesis techniques for the preparation of graphene and its derivatives. Graphene, along with its analogues GO, and rGO shows improved surface properties making it sensitive to fractional change in ambient surroundings. GO/rGO-based sensory materials owing to their distinctive physio-chemical features appeared as a competitive sensor in comparison to the widely used metal oxides. The enhancement in the merits of GO-based humidity sensors is ascribed to the various functionalized groups on the GO surface. Pristine GO is employed as a capacitive sensor, whereas reduced GO (rGO) with improved conductivity is extensively utilized as a chemiresistive humidity sensor. Similarly, Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and 2D- layered graphene have been explored as humidity sensors due to their massive scope of manipulation in properties. The chemiresistive humidity sensor gains an advantage over any type of available sensor owing to its cost-effective fabrication, easier integration with the CMOS platform, and efficient operation. This review aims to establish the evaluability of GO and rGO humidity sensors and their role in the progress of the next generation of flexible sensors for the Internet of Things (IoT).

The exceptional performance of nanomaterials, as a result of their size and unique morphology, has attracted a lot of researchers. The structure and constituents of materials have been modified using a variety of techniques. The ion beam techniques have so far been widely employed to modify the performance of different nanomaterials. The surface configuration and chemical composition of nanomaterials can be altered by energetic ion beams. The ion beam techniques approach is purely physical in comparison to conventional methods. These techniques exhibit outstanding control and reproducibility without adding any impurities to the target materials. Here, current developments in surface modification of nanomaterials employing ion beam methods are thoroughly reviewed.

The rapid urbanization and industrialization have resulted in the environmental pollution, which is the biggest challenge faced by the society. Remediation is mainly associated with the environment. Environmental remediation is the process of removing pollutants or contaminants from the environment such as soil, air, and groundwater for the safeguard of human health and the environment. There are various technologies involved in remediation such as physical remediation involving processes like filtration, extraction, etc; chemical remediation involving chemical reactions, photocatalysis, etc and biological remediation involving microorganisms and plants. The use of nanomaterials for remediation is called nanoremediation. Nanomaterials reveal better performance in environmental remediation than other techniques used because of their high surface area and the associated high reactivity. Different nanomaterials in various shapes, function as adsorbents, catalysts and sensors for detection and removal of gases, contaminants and organic pollutants. This chapter provides an overview of different kinds of remediation techniques and a detailed discussion on different types of nanomaterials used for environmental remediation.

In the current growing demand for lubricants, there is a need for the improvement in their lubricating property. This chapter presents an extensive review of Nano lubricants as well as their applications in a variety of business sectors. Nowadays, the additives of the nanoparticles are coming in trend to increase the lubricating property of any lubricant for use in various applications, for this purpose the additives are dispersed in the base oil which forms the stable lubricating fluid. The addition of nanoparticles in the lubrication provides several benefits as compared with the ordinary lubricant such as reduced friction wear and tear, increased load-carrying capacity, and enhanced thermal stability. Continued research and development in the field of nanotechnology are unlocking the potential pertaining to Nano lubricants resulting in applications in high temperatures, high pressures, and corrosive environments where ordinary lubricants cannot work properly. Additionally, they are being explored for their uses in microdevices, electronics, and advanced materials. When seen from the perspective of the future, the future of Nano lubricants presents many exciting potentials. The current focus of research is on the investigation of innovative nanoparticles, the enhancement of dispersion techniques, and the customization of lubricant compositions for particular applications. The potential of Nano lubricants will be further explored as nanotechnology, tribology, and material science make further strides forward. This will allow for an expansion of their use in developing industries and the creation of lubricating solutions that are more environmentally friendly and efficient in terms of energy use.