Nanomaterials
Summary
Nanomaterials are materials whose key structural features lie in the 1–100 nm range, conferring size-dependent physical, chemical and biological characteristics that differ markedly from their bulk counterparts. Their high surface-to-volume ratio increases the proportion of surface atoms, often enhancing reactivity, catalytic activity and interfacial interactions. At dimensions approaching characteristic electron or phonon wavelengths, quantum confinement effects arise, shifting optical absorption, electronic bandgaps and magnetic behaviour. The ability to tailor shape, composition and surface functionality allows precise control over properties such as conductivity, photoluminescence, mechanical strength and biocompatibility. Nanomaterials span a broad spectrum, including metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles, carbon-based allotropes, semiconductor quantum dots, polymeric carriers and hybrid composites. Applications exploit their unique attributes in areas as diverse as catalysis, energy conversion, environmental remediation, sensing, structural enhancement and targeted drug delivery. Continued innovation in synthesis and assembly methods underpins the translation of nanomaterials into commercial and clinical technologies.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Mechanochemical routes have been established as sustainable, solvent-free processes for the large-scale production of well-dispersed metal-oxide nanoparticles. By carefully selecting reactant mixtures and milling conditions, recent work has shown that iron, manganese and mixed-oxide nanocrystals with controlled size and high crystallinity can be generated directly from bulk precursors. The mechanochemical approach offers precise tuning of phase composition and particle morphology, and yields powders that require minimal post-treatment, thereby reducing energy consumption and environmental impact compared with conventional wet-chemical methods.
Enzymatic green synthesis strategies have delivered zinc oxide nanoflowers via biocatalytic precipitation. Using α-amylase extracted from microbial sources, researchers have fabricated star-shaped assemblies with petal-like crystallites of approximately 100 nm diameter. These biomimetically prepared ZnO structures exhibit outstanding photocatalytic performance under ultraviolet light, achieving over 80 per cent degradation of dye pollutants within minutes, while also displaying potent antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains and maintaining excellent haemocompatibility at relevant concentrations.
Nanomaterials publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in nanomaterials across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Nanomaterial: A material with one or more external or internal dimensions in the range 1–100 nm, exhibiting size-dependent properties.
Surface-to-volume ratio: The ratio of surface area to volume in a particle; high values at the nanoscale amplify surface-driven phenomena such as catalysis and adsorption.
Quantum confinement: Modification of electronic and optical properties when charge carriers are restricted to dimensions comparable to their de Broglie wavelengths, leading to discrete energy levels.
Mechanochemical synthesis: A solvent-free method of nanoparticle fabrication using mechanical forces (e.g., ball milling) to induce chemical reactions.
Green synthesis: Environmentally friendly nanoparticle production employing biological entities or mild reagents to reduce metal precursors and stabilise formed nanostructures.
References
- Mechanochemical synthesis of metal oxide nanoparticles. Communications Chemistry (2021).
- Biomimetic green synthesis of ZnO nanoflowers using α-amylase: from antimicrobial to toxicological evaluation. Scientific Reports (2024).
- Fabrication of chitosan and Trianthema portulacastrum mediated copper oxide nanoparticles: Antimicrobial potential against MDR bacteria and biological efficacy for antioxidant, antidiabetic and photocatalytic activities. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules (2023).
- Continuous Flow Synthesis of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles Enabling Rapid Screening of Synthesis‐Structure‐Property Relationships. Small (2025).
- Nanomaterials: Types, Classifications, and Sources.
About these summaries
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