The Impact of Nanomaterials on the Environment and Perspectives for Sustainable Energy Generation

Introduction

Nanoscience and nanotechnology are considered relevant topics, which involves materials and devices with novel properties due to the arrangement of atoms and formation of materials from 1 to 100 nanometers (nm). The term nanoscience, includes the study and processes to obtain nanomaterials by physics, materials science and biology areas, in particular, focusing on the unique, size-dependent properties of solid-state materials; while the nanotechnology term is ascribed to the ability to measure, manipulate, assemble, control, and manufacture matter or devices at the nanometer scale (Hannah & Thompson, 2008). This subject has attracted great interest because of their scientific and industrial applications. Several areas have applied nanomaterials including; chemistry, biology, materials science, physics, medicine, and engineering (Lemos et al., 2022; Patra et al., 2018; Romeiro et al., 2022; Zhang et al., 2020). In recent years, the worldwide society have observed the use of these tiny compounds to human health, such as for cancer treatment (Bayda et al., 2019; Hannah & Thompson, 2008). The benefits of using nanomaterials have been reported in recent years, especially after the recognition of the famous lecture “There is plenty of room at the bottom” by Richard Feynman (1959), where the concept of manipulating individual atoms was reported.

Nanomaterials can be obtained mainly by two synthetic routes: top-down and bottom-up approaches. The top-down methodology is described as a process to break down bulk material to get nanoparticles. The bottom-up approach, such as self-assembly or chemical processes atom-by-atom or molecule-by-molecule can be manipulated to build more advanced ordered materials. In the bottom-up approach, chemicals as solvents and precursors are employed to obtain nano-sized materials. These nanomaterials need to be disposed properly into the environment, otherwise they can damage the nature and human health (Papp et al., 2008). Therefore, the purpose of this chapter is to present the current state of knowledge of the eco-friendly applications of nanomaterials and also present the effects of nanomaterials with regard to human health and to the environment. The ecofriendly and sustainable applications of nanoparticles, such as electricity by wind and solar energies and for biological processes to produce bioenergy will be discussed. This chapter also brings information of the direct exposure or the use of commercial products made of nanomaterials and recommendations on safe handling to prevent adverse implications.