Recent years have witnessed the devastating impact of climate change on
mankind and environment. Explosive growth in human population, indiscriminate
burning of fossil fuels and rapid expansion of industrial sector have significantly
contributed in worsening the current status of environment and the situation is highly
anticipated to aggravate on extended time scale. To avert any further extreme
environmental deterioration, adaptation of eco-friendly and cost effective alternatives is
indispensable in order to address the global challenges in energy, industry and
environmental sectors. These concerns have led to numerous scientific endeavours
from multidisciplinary areas aimed at modifying existing technologies and designing
new approaches with distinct economic and environmental benefits. Nanotechnology is
genuinely one such revolutionary field of science with unlimited potential applications.
This is evident from some of the greatest breakthroughs in the area of environmental
protection, remediation and pollution prevention. With this idea, the present chapter is
set to explore the fundamental aspects and promising applications of nanotechnology
with emphasis on its role in environmental sustainability. In short, nanotechnology has
significantly contributed in benefiting society and shaping the nature of modern life,
hence it would be appropriate to consider it as the “Realm of Wonders”
Keywords: Agriculture, Environmental monitoring, Environmental protection,
Membrane technology, Nanotechnology, Nano-enhanced industry technology,
Nano-enhanced energy technologies, Photocatalysis, Remediation.
