Current methods for the synthesis of nanomaterials are complex, energetically demanding and environmentally unsustainable. New approaches harness biological principles from biomineralisation to design green, inorganic nanomaterials for the future. This book provides an understanding of these emerging bioinspired methods and how these can be translated into new green manufacturing methods. Starting with an introduction to the principles of green chemistry and engineering, the text highlights the special properties that nanomaterials possess, their applications, and ways to characterise them. It then describes conventional methods of synthesising and manufacturing inorganic nanomaterials and introduces biological and biomimetic/bioinspired synthetic methods as a more effective and sustainable manufacturing route. Two case studies of magnetic and silica materials are also provided for advanced readers.

Green Nanomaterials is an insightful reference text for researchers in the field of synthetic biology and nanomaterials. It is an essential title for postgraduates and final-year undergraduates studying advanced materials, sustainable engineering or environmental chemistry.

Siddharth V Patwardhan is a professor of sustainable chemical and materials engineering at The University of Sheffield. He leads the Green Nanomaterials Research Group (svplab.com) with a vision to develop sustainable routes to functional nanomaterials. The group focusses on the discovery of bioinspired nanomaterials, assessing their scalability and developing manufacturing technologies for energy, environmental, biomedical and engineering applications.
Sarah S Staniland is a reader of bionanomaterials in the Department of Chemistry at The University of Sheffield. She leads the Bionanomagnetic Research Group, which studies the biomimetic synthesis of magnetic nanomaterials and is particularly inspired by the production of magnetite nanoparticles within magnetic bacteria.