Nanomaterials
Viewpoints
2023
2022
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December/January:
2022: The Year in Review
Look for These Developments in 2023 -
November:
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October:
Biomimetic Nanoparticles for a Microrobotic Drug-Delivery Platform
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September:
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August:
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July:
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June:
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May:
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April:
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March:
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February:
2021
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December/January:
2021: The Year in Review
Look for These Developments in 2022 -
November:
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October:
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September:
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August:
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July:
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June:
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May:
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April:
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March:
Carbon-Nanotube-Transistor-Fabrication Breakthrough
Opportunities: Nanoelectronics -
February:
Archived Viewpoints
2020
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December/January:
2020: The Year in Review
Look for These Developments in 2021 -
November:
Nanoparticles in Nanomedicine
Nonbiological and Biological Nanomaterials in Nanomedicine -
October:
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September:
Pollution Mitigation with Nanomaterials
The Role of Nanomaterials in Green Materials -
August:
Nanomembranes for Carbon Capture
Big Picture: Carbon Capture -
July:
Pathogen-Resistant Coatings
Nanomaterials Developments in Energy Storage -
June:
The Pandemic Crisis: Scenarios for the Future of Advanced Manufacturing and Materials
Scenarios Presentation: The Pandemic Crisis: Scenarios for the Future of Technology Development
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May:
The Pandemic Crisis: Key Forces That Will Shape the Future of Advanced Manufacturing and Materials
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April:
Advances in Nanotechnology-Enabled Cancer Therapies
Mass Manufacture of Polymers with Nanoadditives -
March:
Nanotechnology in Agriculture: In the Laboratory
Nanotechnology in Agriculture: On the Market -
February:
Microbial Resistance to Nanoparticles
Promethean Particles Funding for Mass Manufacture of Nanoparticles
2019
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December/January:
2019: The Year in Review
Look for These Developments in 2020 -
November:
Developments in Nanomaterials for Wound Care
Converting Electromagnetic Radiation into Electricity -
October:
Developments in Electronic Textiles
Advances in Perovskite Materials -
September:
Carbon-Capture Membranes
Nanotechnology for Improved Food Packaging -
August:
Current and Future Applications of Quantum Dots
Cancer Therapy with Nanoparticles -
July:
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June:
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May:
Increasing the Bioavailability of Cannabidiol Products
Glass Coatings That Reduce Bird Collisions -
April:
Photocatalyst for Microplastic Degradation
Combining Metal-Organic Frameworks and Nanocrystals -
March:
Peptoid Nanoflowers as Effective Drug-Delivery Systems
Megalibrary of Discrete Nanoparticles -
February:
Super-Liquid-Repellent Coatings for Ultrathin Tubes
Rechargeable Li-CO2 Batteries
2018
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December/January:
2018: The Year in Review
Look for These Developments in 2019 -
November:
Resolving Overheating in Transistors
Developments in Nanofeatured Paints -
October:
QD Solar Cells
A Framework to Improve Nanoparticle Manufacturing -
September:
Graphene-Based Molecular Electronics
First Graphene-Skin Plane Takes Flight -
August:
Reducing Costs in CNTs Mass Production
Nanomaterials-Enabled Direct Solar Desalination -
July:
Neural Networks for Nanomaterial Design
Nanoparticles for Tumor Therapy and Diagnostics -
June:
Screening Nanomaterial Sustainability before Development
New Class of 2D Material Revealed -
May:
Machine Learning to Speed Up Nanomaterial Innovation
Graphene's New Application: Hair Dye? -
April:
EU-Funded Nanomaterial-Risk-Assessment Project
Mass Production of Graphene Biosensors -
March:
Slow-Release Drug-Delivery Gel
Computational Tools Accelerate the Search for 2D Materials -
February:
Glow-in-the-Dark Nanobionic Plants
Nanosensors for Smart Cities
2017
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December/January:
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November:
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October:
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September:
Edible Antibacterial Nanospray Coatings
Developments in Two-Dimensional Heterostructures -
August:
Nanosensor Tattoos for Medical Applications
Artificial Synapses -
July:
Graphene-Based Paint
Two-Dimensional Nanomaterial Transistors -
June:
First Synchrotron in the Middle East
TiO2 Nanoparticle Additives' Potential Impact on Human Health -
May:
Scalable Graphene-Oxide Water-Filtration Membranes
Nanoparticle-Based Aerosol Sprays for Drug Delivery -
April:
Three-Dimensional Mapping of Atoms in Nanoparticles
Silicon Nanowires for High-Resolution Retinal Implants -
March:
Nanobiosensors That Tackle Crop Disease
New EU Project in Antimicrobial Food Packaging -
February:
New Nanomaterial-Reporting Rule
Graphene Electromechanical Sensors Not Silly
2016
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December/January:
2016: The Year in Review
Look for These Developments in 2017 -
November:
Effects of Weathering on Silica Plastics Composites
Quantum-Dot Solar Windows -
October:
First Cooling Fabric: Nanoporous-Polyethylene Textiles
Commercial Release of Nanoparticles for Localized Cancer Treatment -
September:
Developments in Carbon-Nanotube-Based Transistors
Nanotechnology-Based Paper Technologies -
August:
The Internet of NanoThings
Making Ripples with Bacteria and Graphene -
July:
Smart Energy-Saving Glass
Silica-Based Bottles That Repel Detergents -
June:
Fat-Fighting Nano-Drug-Delivery Systems
Global Expansion of Water-Purification Technologies -
May:
Production of Nanoparticles on an Industrial Scale
Plasma Nanomaterial Printing onto 3D Objects -
April:
Flexible Skin Patches for Diabetes Detection
Self-Cleaning Nanotextiles -
March:
Nanostructured Glass for High-Density Data Storage
Smart Microcannons for Targeted Drug Delivery -
February:
Adverse Effects of TiO2 Nanoparticles on Brain Cells
Safer Lithium-Ion Batteries
2015
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December/January:
2015: The Year in Review
Look for These Developments in 2016 -
November:
Black Phosphorus Becoming a Competitor to Graphene
World's First Aqueous-Solar-Flow Battery -
October:
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September:
Developments in the Commercial Fabrication of Graphene and Other Two-Dimensional Materials
Quantum-Dot Spectrometer -
August:
Carbon-Nanotube Films: Developments in Manufacturing and Applications
Harmful Effects of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles -
July:
Artificial Photosynthesis
Developments in Nanomaterials Regulations -
June:
Nanoparticle Bactericides to Combat Citrus Greening
Graphene Lightbulbs: A Commercial Prospect -
May:
Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles in Food
Graphene Developments at 2-DTech -
April:
Nanosensors for Medical Applications
Commercial Developments in Nanopatches -
March:
Buckminsterfullerenes and High-Efficiency Power Cables
Commercialization of Carbon-Nanotube Materials -
February:
Low-Cost Nanocellulose-Manufacturing Process
Artificial-Photosynthesis Record Set
2014
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December/January:
2014: The Year in Review
Look for These Developments in 2015 -
November:
Nanoscale-Anticounterfeiting Developments
Nanoscale 3D Printing -
October:
Approaching Graphene's Limits
Commercial Release of the World's Blackest Material -
September:
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August:
Quantum Materials Corp. Begins Industrial-Scale Production of Quantum Dots
OCSiAl Driving Forward Carbon-Nanotube Technology -
July:
Nanoscale Early-Stage Cancer Detectors
IBM Researchers Discover New Class of Polymer -
June:
Nanocellulose Sponges for Environmental Remediation
Nanoprotection from Counterfeiting -
May:
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April:
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March:
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February:
Perceptions of Nanotechnology: From "Nanoterrorism" to Education and Engagement
2013
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December/January:
2013: The Year in Review
Look for These Developments in 2014 -
November:
Nanoclothing: How Nanomaterials Could Revolutionize the Textile Industry
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October:
Inside the Nanohouse: How Nanomaterials Affect Day-to-Day Living
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September:
The Nanohouse: How Nanomaterials Are Shaping the Buildings People Live In
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August:
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July:
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June:
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May:
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April:
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March:
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February:
2012
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December/January:
2012: The Year in Review
Look for These Developments in 2013 -
November:
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October:
Nanocomposites and the Functionalization of Carbon Nanotubes
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September:
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August:
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July:
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June:
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May:
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April:
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March:
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February:
Nanocrystalline Cellulose: Changing the Image of Nanomaterials
2011
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December/January:
2011: The Year in Review
Look for These Developments in 2012 -
November:
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October:
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September:
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August:
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July:
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June:
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April:
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February:
2010
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December/January:
2010: The Year in Review
Look for These Developments in 2011 -
November:
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October:
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September:
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August:
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July:
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June:
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April:
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February:
2009
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December/January:
2009: The Year in Review
Look for These Developments in 2010 -
November:
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October:
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September:
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August:
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July:
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June:
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May:
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April:
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March:
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February:
Really Good Expectations: Avoiding the Overhyping of Nanomaterials
2008
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December/January:
2008: The Year in Review
Look for These Developments in 2009 -
November:
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October:
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September:
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August:
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July:
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June:
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May:
Nanoenabled Batteries and Ultracapacitors for Hybrid Electric Vehicles
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April:
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March:
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February:
2007
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December/January:
2007: The Year in Review
Look for These Developments in 2008 -
November:
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October:
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September:
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August:
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July:
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June:
Nanomaterials and Medicine: Device Coatings, Implantable Devices, and Drug Delivery
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May:
Carbon Nanotubes and Silicon: Synergists, Competitors, or Both?
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April:
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March:
Recent Developments: Canon Loses Out | The Innovation Society Develops a Nanospecific Safety Label
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February:
2006
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December/January:
2006: The Year in Review
Look for These Developments in 2007 -
November:
Nanotechnology Intellectual-Property Landscape and Strategies
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October:
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September:
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August:
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July:
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June:
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April:
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February:
2005
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December/January:
2005: The Year in Review
Look for These Developments in 2006 -
November:
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October:
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September:
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August:
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July:
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June:
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May:
Recent Developments: Nanofabric Developments | Nanocomposites for Automotive Applications
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April:
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March:
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February:
2004
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December/January:
2004: The Year in Review
Look for These Developments in 2005 -
November:
Nanomaterial-Based Flexible Solar Cells
Areas to Monitor: Nanomaterials-Based Micro Fuel Cells -
October:
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September:
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August:
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July:
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June:
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May:
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April:
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March:
The Importance of Nanomaterials and Associated Safety Issues
About Nanomaterials
This Technology Map assesses the commercial potential of nanomaterials of nonbiological origin. Although no global consensus definition of nanomaterials has emerged, most regulatory authorities consider a nanomaterial to have dimensions that measure between 1 and 100 nanometers and, as a result of these small features, has unique properties. At this scale, gravity no longer plays an appreciable role, and other forces—such as electrostatic interactions—tend to dominate. Factors such as size, shape, and even the nature of the surrounding material govern the properties of nanomaterials, unlike with bulk materials. Nanomaterials have the potential to outperform conventional materials in practically every sense. They exhibit enhanced mechanical and electrical characteristics, as well as unique optical properties. The astonishing properties that nanomaterials possess mean that they have the potential to revolutionize virtually all industry sectors completely and address a variety of commercial needs. The drive toward thinner, lighter, cheaper, and—perhaps above all—higher-performing materials across the board means that nanomaterials will be at the heart of most applications in the future.
Nanomaterials already pervade our everyday lives to an extent that people do not generally fully appreciate. The novel properties that they exhibit and the extent to which these properties are tunable give rise to an almost endless list of potential applications and commercial products that improve the performance of existing materials. Nanomaterials already find use in the electronics industry, the health sector, the production and storage of renewable energy, a wide variety of consumer goods, the construction industry, and the automotive sector. However, this "nanorevolution" is still in its infancy and will undoubtedly continue as researchers discover new materials and processes and the technologies mature. The principal driving forces behind developments in nanomaterials include improvements to functionality and the reduced costs that developers incur. Certain barriers to progress do, however, also exist. Chief among them is public concern about the potential health-related effects of nanomaterials, particularly in consumer products. Research into related health issues must take place in order to allay any concerns and improve the public perception of nanomaterial-based products. Regulations could inhibit the application or expansion of nanomaterials, particularly in fields such as medicine and personal-care products.
The fast-moving nature of the field means that companies that keep abreast of recent developments will be able to remain at the forefront of cutting-edge technology and will be best placed to identify opportunities and reap the rewards of early implementation. Nanomaterials pose a large threat to existing technologies and materials that could conceivably be swept aside by innovative and superior alternatives. In the near term, not only will nanomaterials refine the development of existing technologies, but also they will bring new emerging and disruptive technologies to the marketplace. In the long term—according to some fanciful visionaries—nanomaterials may lead to a powerful and accelerated social revolution in which virtually all present-day industrial processes become obsolete. Long-term consequences are always debatable, but without doubt, nanomaterials have an important role to play across many industries and will, with time, have a strong impact on people's lives.