What are synthetic nanoparticles? (NanoTrust Dossier No. 002en – February 2011)

Synthetically produced nanoparticles play an important role in nanotechnology. They are the basis for many applications currently being used on a large scale, and they have a great potential in the development of new materials. The diversity of synthetic nanoparti-cles is considerable. They are distinct in their properties and applications. In addition to their size, synthetic nanoparticles vary in chemical composition, shape, surface character-istics and mode of production. This dossier provides an overview of the various character-istics of nanoparticles.