Nanomaterials: Applications, waste-handling, environmental toxicities, and future challenges - A Review

Currently, nanotechnology is referred to be the highest porosity research sectors in several countries because of its vast potentiality and commercial impact. Nanotechnology includes the investigation, development, fabrication, and processing of structures and materials on a nanoscale in several fields of science, health care, agriculture, technology, and industries. As such, it has provided a steady restructuring of several related technologies. Hence, the irregularities and uncertainties in dimensions and chemical compositions, the existence of certain nanomaterials may bring negative impacts to human health and the environment. Concerns have so been inclined about the transport, destiny, and transformation of nanomaterials discharged into the environment. A critical analysis of the present phase of knowledge concerning the exposure and effects of nanomaterials has been discussed in-depth. In this review, different nanomaterials along with their applications have also been reviewed, that include graphene-based nanomaterials, carbon nanotubes, and their composites, nano clay composites, nanostructured thin films, metal-organic frameworks, conducting polymers and their composites, Mxenes, chalcogenide nanocrystals, and quantum dots. Besides, a few of the groundbreaking applications of nanomaterials for different sectors like human health, processes, photochemical process, energy conversion and energy storage, separation and purification processes, optoelectronics, etc. are discussed in detail. Moreover, their unique characteristics and applications of nanomaterials, they inherently introduce challenges for their applications and large-scale production are also described. Acknowledgment of the potential benefits and unknown dangers of nanomaterials is critically essential to follow their advancement in the upcoming years.