Nanotechnology and the Environment: Opportunities and Challenges

Nanotechnology has been the core of a wide range of applications in many fields due to its remarkable impact. Through nanotechnology, materials with exceptional properties have been engineered to meet various needs in medical, energy storage, and environmental remediation. The unique properties of nanomaterials are due to their size, large surface area, and interaction before and during application. Nanoadsorbents, nanocatalysts, nanophotocatalysts, and nanosensors are some of the materials developed using nanofabrication methods such as precipitation, hydrothermal, solvothermal, atomic layer deposition, spray pyrolysis, and chemical vapor deposition, to deal with environmental issues. This chapter discusses major organic, inorganic, and composite nanomaterials, their core properties, and their application in overcoming environmental challenges; with a wide focus on air treatment from carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds, and water treatment from pollutants such as dyes, antibiotics, and metal ions. Nanofabrication methods used in producing nanomaterials, both wet and dry methods, are discussed. The significant advantages of nanomaterials, the concomitant challenges and fabrication methods, and opportunities are highlighted.