Polymers Nanocomposite Supercapacitors for Water Treatment and Food Packaging

The nanotechnology field has been expanding with nanomaterials’ development regarding their different structural, morphological, and chemical characteristics, guaranteeing enormous versatile applications. One of these features includes the ability to link molecules of different natures and functionalities that can be used for diverse applications for various products, such as pharmaceutical nanoformulations, ointments/creams for therapeutic or aesthetic purposes, curative films, active packaging, food additives, food packaging, and others. This book chapter will focus on the recent developments of the polymer-family-based nanocomposites used as food packaging systems. Their application to the agriculture and food sectors is relatively recent compared with their use in drug delivery and pharmaceuticals. Smart delivery of nutrients, bioseparation of proteins, rapid sampling of biological and chemical contaminants, and nanoencapsulation of nutraceuticals are some of the emerging topics of nanotechnology for food and agriculture. In this, some applications of nanotechnology in the agro-food sector are defined. We will provide an overview of the historical use of food packaging materials and present the most common preparation methods of polymer-based nanocomposites––with several fossils and renewable-derived polymeric matrices––their physicochemical interactions, final properties as a food packaging material, and most common applications found in the market.