About this collection

This Collection will focus on all aspects of nanotechnology. Did you, for example, know that the nanoscale ranges between 1–100 nm, which is a million times smaller than an average ant! In this Collection, we will provide a brief history of nanotechnology, including what it is and what nanomaterials look like. Articles will illustrate ways that nanotechnology can be used to improve human lives.

When manufacturing nanomaterials, we can change many of their properties also known as their characteristics. Nanomaterials can exist in various shapes, such as spheres, rods, stars, or even tubes. By changing the shape, composition, or size of a nanomaterial, we can change its functions. One famous example, the buckyball, is a carbon-based nanomaterial that looks like a cage; it can be used as a lubricant, or medicines can be loaded within it. Whenever we choose to use nanomaterials, we must first ensure that they are safe for all living things and the environment.

The development of nanotechnology holds great promise for future technological developments. As a fast-developing field, the products of nanotechnology can be found in all aspects of our lives, including food, cosmetics, electronics, and paint. In this Collection, we will explain how nanotechnology can be used to remove pollutants from our water or to develop energy-storage systems, describe how biosensors work, and discuss the challenges faced in ensuring the safe use of nanomaterials.