Review Article

Manufacturing nanomaterials: from research to industry

National Technical University of Athens, School of Chemical Engineering, Department III: Materials Science and Engineering, Research Unit of Advanced, Composite, Nano-Materials and Nanotechnology, 9 Heroon Polytechniou St., Zografos, Athens GR-157 73, Greece

^* e-mail: charitidis@chemeng.ntua.gr

Received: 1 July 2014
Accepted: 25 July 2014

Abstract

Manufacturing of nanomaterials is an interdisciplinary field covering physics, chemistry, biology, materials science and engineering. The interaction between scientists with different disciplines will undoubtedly lead to the production of novel materials with tailored properties. The success of nanomanufacturing depends on the strong cooperation between academia and industry in order to be informed about current needs and future challenges, to design products directly transferred into the industrial sector. It is of paramount importance the selection of the appropriate method combining synthesis of nanomaterials with required properties and limited impurities as well as scalability of the technique. Their industrial use faces many obstacles as there is no suitable regulatory framework and guidance on safety requirements; specific provisions have yet to be established in EU legislation. Moreover, regulations related to the right of intellectual properties as well as the absence of an appropriate framework for patent registration are issues delaying the process of products’ industrial application. The utilization of high-quality nanomaterials is now growing and coming to the industrial arena rendering them as the next generation attractive resources with promising applications. Undoubtedly, the existing gap between basic research relating nanomaterials and their application in real life will be overcome in the coming decade.