Sustainable Approaches Towards Nanomaterial Synthesis: Strategies, Properties, and Process Integration

Nanomaterials (NMs) are a unique class of materials with at least one dimension between 1 and 100 nm, exhibiting exceptional properties distinct from their bulk counterparts. Their high surface area, as well as tunable physical, chemical, and magnetic behaviors make them valuable across diverse applications. Phase transitions, such as the emergence of magnetism at the nanoscale, highlight their distinctiveness. This review outlines the historical development of NMs and clarifies key terminology. It covers major synthesis techniques, including top-down and bottom-up approaches, and highlights the unique features that define nanoscale matter. A comprehensive overview of various NMs, such as fullerenes, graphene, carbon nanotubes, MXenes, and core–shell nanoparticles (NPs) is presented. The paper concludes with an overview of current challenges and future directions in the field of NMs.