Preface

This book on *Nanotechnology and the Environment* includes an introduction to nanotechnology contributed to by world-renowned specialists in the field of nanomaterials, renewable energy, and environmental sciences. This book is a collection of advanced areas of research on all aspects of nanotechnologies. Nanoscience, nanotechnology, and environmental research are truly multidisciplinary and international efforts, which cover a wide range of scientific disciplines such as physics, chemistry, biology, biomedical, medicine, materials sciences etc. Nanomaterials that usually range in size from 1 to 100 nm in at least one dimension. The properties of nanomaterials are different from those of macro particles because the chemical and physical properties are very dissimilar when the dimensions are at the nano meter range and this reflects in production of very unique physiochemical properties like shape, size, dispersion, surface functionalization or de-functionalization etc. The core scientific principles and applications of this interdisciplinary field bring together chemists, physicists, materials scientists, and engineers to meet the potential future challenges such as renewable energies for sustainable development, new technologies for preparation of advanced materials, and environmental protection. This also shows a huge amount of potential application in solar cells, fuel cells, secondary batteries, capacitors, MOFs etc.

Application of nanotechnology in solar cells reflects awareness about the newly developed nanomaterials. The new architectures for solar cells focus on nanotechnology by making transparent solar cells as compared to the conventional materials. The application of nanotechnology-based photo catalysts in solar cells i.e., uses of photo nano catalyst have been appreciated as very interesting and of course environmentally sustainable i.e., self-cleaning process using nano photo catalyst.

The potential of nanotechnology in agricultural sciences using the revolutionary application of nano fertilizers have proved to be economically feasible and socially sustainable technology as compared to conventional materials. The application of nanotechnology-based nano fertilizers has potential to reduce nutrient loss due to leaching, emissions, and long-term incorporation by soil microorganisms i.e., self-cleaning process using nano fertilizers.

Modern trends in uses of different wastes to produce nanoparticles and its environmental applications reflects a healthy awareness about the newly developed nano materials. The sequences of the uses of the new architectures for synthesis of different nanoparticles such as nano-cellulose, metals and metal oxide nanoparticles, carbon nanoparticles and nano-fibers using different methods on agricultural wastes and industrial wastes have been developed. Also discussed is the self-cleaning process using nano materials from wastes by using food wastes in nanoparticle synthesis as compared to the conventional materials.

**II**

**Chapter 7 119**

**Chapter 8 129**

*by Muthuraman Yuvaraj and Kizhaeral Sevathapandian Subramanian*

Graphene Oxide-Based Nanohybrids as Pesticide Biosensors:

Novel Slow Release Nanocomposite Fertilizers

Latest Developments *by Navin Kumar Mogha* The designing and the sophisticated fabrication of nanomaterials have been discussed along with their potential energy and environmental applications. This book is a significant contribution towards the development of the knowledge for all advanced undergraduate, graduate level students, researchers, and professional engineers leading in the fields of nanotechnology, nano chemistry, macromolecular science and those who have interest in energy and environmental science.

> **Mousumi Sen** Amity University, UP, India

> > **1**

Section 1

Nanomaterials: Synthesis

and Applications

## Section 1
