Green Metal Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization and their Applications

Metal nanoparticles are the basic elements of nanotechnology as they are the primary source used in the design of nanostructured devices and materials. Nanomaterials can be manufactured either incidentally, with physical or chemical methods, or naturally; and the high demand for them has led to their large-scale production by various toxic solvents or high energy techniques. However, due to the growing awareness of environmental and safety issues, the use of clean, nontoxic and environment-friendly ways to synthesize metal nanoparticles has emerged out of necessity. The use of biological resources, such as microbes, plant parts, vegetable wastes, agricultural wastes, gums, etc., has grown to become an alternative way of synthesizing metal nanoparticles. This biogenic synthesis is green, environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and nontoxic.

The current multi-authored book includes recent information and builds a database of bioreducing agents for various metal nanoparticles using different precursor systems. Green Metal Nanoparticles also highlights different simple, cost-effective, environment-friendly and easily scalable strategies, and includes parameters for controlling the size and shape of the materials developed from the various greener methods.