Green Nanotechnology

Green nanotechnology is an approach to risk mitigation that refers to several desirable or extant features of nanotechnology—from advancing the development of clean technology by promoting nanotechnology-enabled, environmentally-friendly manufacturing processes, particularly molecular nanotechnology that generates zero waste; to the use of nanomaterials as catalysts for greater efficiency in current manufacturing processes by minimizing or eliminating the use of toxic materials (green chemistry principles); to the use of nanomaterials and nanodevices to reduce pollution (e.g., water and air filters); and the use of nanomaterials for more efficient alternative energy production (e.g., solar and fuel cells).

Nanomaterials and nanotechnology have raised public concern to unprecedented levels, in part because [Page 299]it involves the public more than earlier technologies, many of which were developed without anticipation of a negative impact (oil), or covertly (nuclear), or in the spirit of progress (chemical). Moreover, the fear of nanotechnology has been heightened by accounts disaster in fiction, such as Michael Crichton's famous novel Prey, or Bill Joy's warning that it would be better to abandon nanotechnology to prevent the end of the world from the release of “Grey Goo.” Therefore, the term also refers to an aspirational goal of anticipatory governance, and to avoid mistakes of earlier technological transformations, such as coal, oil, or even microelectronics and information technology. The goal is to develop clean, nontoxic, and environmentally-friendly procedures for the synthesis and assembly of nanoparticles. This has led to intense efforts to develop green nanotechnology, or nanoproducts that are green as possible right from their creation. Thus, green nanotechnology can also be defined as a set of principles calling for a conscious effort to eliminate or minimize pollution from the production of nanomaterials.