6.2.11 NanomaterialsÂ
Nanomaterials (NMs) remain a highly discussed topic, with ongoing
research focused on their environmental presence, behaviour, and
toxicity, alongside the continuous development of new NMs. Nanosilver
(nAg) is still the most widely used material, commonly found in
bandages, body stockings, T-shirts, food containers, children’s
blankets, towels and toys. Nanomaterials such as graphene, fullerenes,
single-walled carbon nanotubes, nTiO2, nZnO and
nCeO2. There is a growing consensus that NM may also
pose low environmental risk, although data are lacking in many areas
(Lead et al., 2018). Nanomaterials have physical, chemical, and
biological properties due to their nanoscale dimensions (usually 1 to
100 nm). The range of domains associated with the number usually affects
their behaviour. Examples include carbon nanotubes, graphene, quantum
dots, steel nanoparticles, and ceramic nanofibers. These materials’
exceptional properties are used in various packaging applications in
fields such as electronics, energy, and biomedicine. The flexibility and
tunability of nanomaterials make them important in different industries,
stimulating the development of technologies such as electricity and
energy for medical and environmental technologies (Pomerantseva et al.,
2019).