Chemistry of Functional Nanomaterials for Sustainable Environmental Applications

The rapid growth of industrialization, urbanization, and global population has intensified environmental challenges, including water contamination; air pollution; plastic accumulation; heavy metal contamination; greenhouse gas emissions; and emerging organic pollutants. Addressing these challenges requires innovative materials capable of efficient pollutant detection, degradation, sequestration, and resource recovery. Functional nanomaterials have emerged as powerful platforms owing to their tunable physicochemical properties, high surface area, abundant active sites, and unique electronic structures. Advances in nanomaterial chemistry—including controlled synthesis, surface engineering, heterostructure design, defect engineering, and composition tuning—have enabled significant improvements in photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, adsorption, membrane separation, environmental sensing, and advanced oxidation processes. These developments are accelerating the transition toward sustainable environmental technologies that support pollution control, circular economy principles, and climate resilience.This Research Topic aims to showcase cutting-edge research on the chemistry of functional nanomaterials for environmental applications, emphasizing the relationships between synthesis methods, surface chemistry, structure–property relationships, and environmental performance. We particularly encourage contributions that advance the rational design of nanomaterials for sustainable remediation, resource recovery, environmental catalysis, pollutant monitoring, and next-generation environmental technologies.Examples of functional nanomaterials that would be of interest include: titanium dioxide (TiO₂); zinc oxide (ZnO); iron oxide (Fe₃O₄/Fe₂O₃); cerium oxide (CeO₂); manganese oxide (MnO₂); cobalt oxide (Co₃O₄); nickel oxide (NiO); molybdenum oxide (MoO₃); tungsten oxide (WO₃); copper oxide (CuO); graphene and graphene oxide; carbon nanotubes; MXenes; metal–organic frameworks (MOFs); covalent organic frameworks (COFs); layered double hydroxides (LDHs); quantum dots; polymeric nanocomposites; biochar-based nanomaterials; hybrid nanostructures; and other emerging functional nanomaterials. Studies involving green synthesis, waste-derived nanomaterials, and bio-inspired fabrication strategies are particularly encouraged where they demonstrate clear advantages in environmental performance and sustainability.We welcome original research, reviews, mini-reviews, and perspectives that include, but are not limited to:• Synthesis and scalable fabrication of functional nanomaterials for environmental applications• Green, bio-inspired, and waste-derived nanomaterial synthesis• Water and wastewater purification, desalination, and membrane technologies• Environmental sensing, nanosensors, and real-time pollutant monitoring• Artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computational approaches for the design and optimization of environmental nanomaterials• Translation of laboratory-scale nanotechnologies into practical environmental applicationsThis Research Topic seeks to bridge chemistry, materials science, environmental engineering, and nanotechnology by highlighting innovative functional nanomaterials that address pressing environmental challenges while promoting sustainable development and the transition toward cleaner technologies. Topic editors: Niyi Gideon Olaiya, Muniratu Maliki, Roslida Abd Hamid, Ikhazuagbe Hilary Ifijen Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/86872/chemistry-of-functional-nanomaterials-for-sustainable-environmental-applications