Current Green Nanotechnology: The Case of Noble Metal Nanocomposites and Applications

Abstract

Noble metal nanoparticles are important class of nanomaterials which have contributed immensely to the development of nanotechnology. In recent times, the improvement on the properties and applications of the pure noble metal nanoparticles has shifted interest towards the development of their nanocomposites. The noble metals can form composite materials with polymers, cellulose, carbon materials and metal oxides. This chapter will focus on green synthesized nanocomposites of silver, gold and platinum with cellulose, different metal oxides, graphene oxides and polymers. The use of green methods such as plant extracts, microorganism biomolecules and industrial and agricultural wastes are interesting techniques that leads to formation of the nanoparticles with lesser or no toxicity compared to other methods. The different behaviours and applications of the nanocomposites in catalysis, water treatment, sensing and biomedicine would be studied. This work will offer newer perspectives towards the excellent synthesis and applications of the noble metal nanocomposites.