Stabilization of Metallic Nanoparticles via Surfactant Systems: Advances, Challenges, and Future Perspectives: A Review

ABSTRACT This review article provides the significance of surfactants for stabilizing metallic nanoparticles (MNPs). The major developments in this field are discussed with an objective to stabilize the MNPs through improved dispensability and functionality. This paper reviews the fundamental aspects and diverse applications of MNPs in catalysis, biomedicine, and environmental sciences. The role of surfactants in preventing nanoparticle aggregation by means of electrostatic, steric, and electrosteric stabilization is described. Different types of surfactants, such as ionic, non‐ionic, zwitterionic, and Gemini, are briefly discussed. New strategies for surfactants' design, like stimuli‐responsive surfactants and biodegradable molecules, are presented. Current tendencies in this field are green syntheses of MNPs, multilayer stabilization of the nanoparticles, and environmentally friendly surfactants. Spectroscopic and microscopic approaches are very important to study the interaction of surfactants and MNPs at the molecular level. Though there have been great advances in the field of MNPs stabilization, some problems still arise in achieving long‐lasting stability and biocompatibility, as well as scaling up the synthesis process. Perspectives in this area are connected with the use of smart and environmentally friendly surfactants, together with characterization and computational modelling techniques.