Abstract
There is significant need for Green Innovations in order to reduce environmental impacts: by increasing energy efficiency, by reducing waste or greenhouse gas emissions, and/or by minimizing the consumption of nonrenewable raw materials. A number of national and international organizations, both private and governmental, are promoting cultural transition in science and technology to realize “green growth” scenario. In the context of nanotechnology, green innovation would embody green nanotechnology—aimed at processes for the production of finished products that are safe, energy efficient, reduce waste, and lessen greenhouse gas emissions. Such products and processes are based on renewable materials that will have a low net negative impact on the environment. Green nanotechnology is also about manufacturing processes that are economically and environmentally sustainable. Green nanotechnology is increasingly being referred to in connection with other concepts such as green chemistry and sustainable and green engineering and manufacturing. The principles of green chemistry can be applied to produce safer and more sustainable nanomaterials and more efficient and sustainable nanomanufacturing processes. Most importantly, in the context of renewability, sustainability, and long-term environmental benignity, green nanotechnology will invoke the utility of herbs, leaves, and a myriad of agricultural produce to develop value-added nanotechnology-based products. For example, phytochemicals from a variety of herbs, leaves, and agricultural produce serve as reservoir of electrons because of their rich antioxidant capacities. This means that electron-rich phytochemicals will serve as the next generation of building blocks for the conversion of metallic precursors into their corresponding nanoparticles, thus replacing more toxic chemical reducing agents such as sodium borohydride, hydrazine, and related chemicals in the overall nanoparticle production processes. Green nanotechnology therefore opens up realistic opportunities for the creation of engineered nanomaterials in medicine, energy, and for the creation of smart materials for sensor devices for use in the consumer electronics and communication sectors.
The global explosion of both basic and mission-oriented research in academia and industry is resulting in entirely green nanotechnologies for the design and development of nanoparticles that will make their way into a plethora of smart electronic materials, life-saving nanopharmaceuticals, environmental restoration technologies, and alternative green energy production devices. Green nanotechnology can have multiple roles and impacts across the whole value chain of a product and can be of an enabling nature, being used as a tool to further support technology or product development. Green nanotechnology innovations will improve or enable sustainable and green processes that lead to the development and production of nanotechnology-enabled products, sometimes, without that final product containing any nanomaterials.
Because of the enormous impacts of green nanotechnology on science, engineering, medicine, and environmental restoration and a host of allied scientific and engineering disciplines, SAGE publishers have undertaken a timely launch of the International Journal of Green Nanotechnology.
SAGE—world’s leading publisher of scientific, medical, and engineering content of the highest quality will publish the International Journal of Green Nanotechnology as open access. This journal will foster scientifically credible knowledge base on the impacts of green nanotechnology on a large range of economic sectors, ranging from medicine, food packaging to automotives, from the tire industry to electronics. This journal will publish original articles, speedy communications, review articles and would also engage in scientific inquiry that reminds our responsibly in developing green and environmentally benign nanotechnological processes. In addition to publications on all aspects of science and technology that relate to green nanotechnology, this journal will publish commentaries and special and timely news items encompassing global governmental policy initiatives, as green nanotechnology is increasingly being applied in conjunction with other technologies, such as biotechnology and energy technologies, leading to products incorporating multiple green technological innovations.
As the editor-in-chief, I will work with my team of associate editors, international advisory panel, and the editorial board—to maintain a commitment to excellence in publishing of original and groundbreaking research, news, and commentaries in all aspects of green nanotechnology.