Green Chemistry and Nanotechnology: An Indispensable Modern Yardstick, Symbiotic Relationship and Future Perspective

Nanotechnology has witnessed significant expansion owing to its wide range of applicability in scientific disciplines such as environment, medicine, electronics, etc. To satiate the needs of such broader disciplines has led to continuous exploitation of various toxic substrates and costlier and high-energy approaches, leading to the production of toxic byproducts. Growing environmental concerns have led to a diversion towards ‘green chemistry’ as the benign approaches. Green chemistry and nanotechnology go hand in hand as ‘green nanotechnology’ in the field of advanced materials development and are aimed at raising products’ potencies in the chemical supply chain and reducing health and environmental hazards. This emerging discipline soulfully caters to the concept of development by controlling the hazards produced by nanotechnology through ecologically greener approaches such as green synthesis. Apart from this, it also prioritizes other aspects through the incorporation of economically viable and green substrates, renewable and energy-specific synthesis protocols, and biodegradable products. Furthermore, it coincides with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs) to develop the technologies that are sustainable and environmentally friendly and offer better health and well-being. In this chapter, a systematic attempt is made to understand the basics of green chemistry and nanotechnology and sustainable synthesis approaches for the development of nanomaterials like metal-based, carbon-based, ceramic-based, polymeric, lipid-based, and other miscellaneous materials. Furthermore, applications of green-synthesized nanomaterials in various important areas like catalysis, energy, agriculture, food and packaging, and pharmaceutical fields are given. The challenges facing the implementation of sustainable green synthesis protocols are discussed with prospects of green nanotechnology in advanced materials development. The concept of green nanotechnology aims to utilize nano-innovation in materials science and engineering to help build and sustain a society that produces energy-efficient products and processes, which are both environmentally friendly and economically viable.