Chapter 2 - Chemistry, Biology, and Surface Engineering of Sustainable Nanostructural Materials

Abstract

This chapter provides a fundamental review of the surface chemistry and biological aspects of various sustainable nanomaterials including metallic nanoparticles; cellulosic nanomaterials such as cellulose nanocrystal, cellulose nanofiber, lignocellulose, lignin, and bacterial cellulose; carbon nanomaterials such as graphene and carbon nanotubes; and inorganic 2D nanomaterials such as layered silicates (or nanoclays) and layered double hydroxides. Focus has been aimed to the principles of nanotechnology related to green chemical synthesis, engineering of nanomaterials, and renewal nanomaterials from various natural sources. This chapter further explores the surface engineering strategies of these sustainable nanomaterials, and their polymer-based nanocomposites for various advanced applications. Surface engineering of different nanomaterials is an important parameter to improve their colloidal stability in the dispersion mixture of components as well as to give compatibilized structural order for the improvements in overall material properties. This chapter briefly highlights the bio-nano interactions of the nanomaterials with their biological environment, and also discusses the influence of their physicochemical properties such as the size, shape, and surface modifications in their biological effects. Their various applications and commercial demands are also highlighted in this chapter. The conclusion and future trends of the sustainable nanomaterials in these aspects are presented herein as well.