Green Chemistry for Nanoparticle Synthesis

Dear Colleagues,

Metallic nanoparticles exhibit unusual optical, thermal, chemical and catalytic properties due to the combination of large proportion of high-energy surface atoms as compared to the bulk materials. Synthesis of metal nanoparticles has received considerable attention in the past two decades in view of the potential application for these materials to many industrial applications especially in pharmaceutical, optical, photochemical and chemical processes. There are generally two routes for preparation of very small metallic particles: top-down and bottom-up. Top-down methods reduce macroscopic particles to the well divided nanoscaled particles while bottom-up methods start with atoms that aggregate in solution or even in the gas phase to form particles of desired structure and morphology. Top-down processes are hardly suited for preparing particles with uniform shape. However, bottom-up routes are much better for generating uniform particles with distinct size, shape and structure. Several methods exist to synthetize finely divided metallic particles. But very often, harsh conditions or toxic solvents and precursors are used. Currently new greener methodologies are developed which permit to obtain metal nanoparticles with narrow size distribution and controlled morphology. These methods are based on the Green Chemistry principles focused on the tendency to realize free-pollution synthesis or perform synthesis with only few amounts of pollutant agents, using safe and renewable products and low energy demand.

This Special Issue of Nanomaterials is seeking papers that can demonstrate new developments in metallic nanoparticles synthesis taking into account the main principles of green chemistry. We are looking for excellent works dealing with new or/and revisited methods of homogeneous, heterogeneous or photocatalysts synthesis and their use in sustainable processes.

Dr. Robert Wojcieszak
Prof. Dr. Mohamed Nawfal Ghazzal
Guest Editors

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