Nanomaterials: Classification, properties, and environmental toxicities

Nanomaterials (NMs) are gaining significance in technological applications due to their tunable chemical, physical, and mechanical properties and enhanced performance when compared with their bulkier counterparts. This review presents a summary of the general types of NMs and provides an overview of the various synthesis methods of nanoparticles (NPs) and their functionalization via covalent or noncovalent interactions using different methods. It highlights the techniques used for the characterization of NPs and discusses their physical and chemical properties. Due to their unique properties, NMs have several applications and have become part of our daily lives. As a result, nanotoxicity research is gaining attention since some NPs are not easily degraded by the environment. Thus, this review also highlights research efforts into the fate, behavior, and toxicity of different classes of NMs in the environment.