A Sustainable Future Using 2D and 1D Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue follows the trajectory of two earlier Special Issues in Nanomaterials, “Carbon Nanotubes and Nanosheets for Sustainable Solutions” and “70th Year Anniversary of Carbon Nanotube Discovery - Focus on Real World Solutions”.

In modern times, the earliest known scientific investigation of a nanomaterial was in 1952, when Russian scientists L.V. Radushkevich and V.M. Lukyanovich published clear images showing multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with a 50 nm diameter, crediting them with the discovery of CNTs [1,2]. In the 21st century, nanotechnology holds immeasurable promise to unlock and enable significant advancements in major sectors impacting society: energy, environment, infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, communications, education, and defense. A developmental backdrop common to all these sectors in society necessarily involves artificial intelligence and sustainability. With a focus on global sustainability, the United Nations set out a call for action in its Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) in 2017.

Critical examples of nanotechnology in sustainability include:

(1) Energy: Nanotechnology is used to develop better batteries, such as lithium/sodium-ion batteries, with improved energy density, charge and discharge efficiency, and cycle life.

(2) Environment: Nanofiltration can be used in water treatment in homes, offices, and industries, where molybdenum disulphide (MoS₂) nonporous membrane is used for energy-efficient desalination of water, filtering five times more water than conventional filters.

(3) Healthcare: Nanotechnology is helping to prevent infectious wounds through smart bandages that contain nanoparticles of blood-clotting agents, growth hormones, or sensors that can detect infection and release antibiotics. In many cases, these bandages are made from biofriendly materials that allow them to be left on the wound until they dissolve.

(4) Manufacturing: In electronics, nanotechnology enables the manufacture of tiny electronics and electric devices, for example, nanoscale transistors made out of carbon nanotubes. The extremely small scale makes it possible to print thin and highly flexible items, like plastic solar panels, electric textiles, and flexible gas sensors.

The contributions sought for this Special Issue are not limited to the above scope and are inclusive of all forms of 2D and 1D nanomaterials utilized towards sustainability.

References:

[1] Radushkevich, L.V.; Lukyanovich, V.M. O strukture ugleroda obrazujucegosja pri termiceskom razlozenii okisi ugleroda na zeleznom kontakte. Zhurnal Fizicheskoi Khimii 1952, 26, 88–95. (Translated into Radushkevich, L.V.; Lukyanovich, V.M. About the structure of carbon formed by thermal decomposition of carbon monoxide on iron substrate. Russian Journal of Physical Chemistry A 1952, 26, 88–95.)

[2] Monthioux, M.; Kuznetsov, V.L.; Guest editorial: Who should be given the credit for the discovery of carbon nanotubes? Carbon 2006, 44, 1621–1623.

Dr. Muralidharan Paramsothy
Guest Editor

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• nanostructure
• nanodevice
• nanocomposite
• nanomembrane
• nanomedicine
• nanocircuit
• chemical
• physical
• biological
• thermal
• optical
• electrical
• quantum
• catalyst
• energy
• multifunctional
• green
• sustainable