摘要
Since the launch of the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative （NNI） in 2000, research and development in nanotechnology innovation has come a long way worldwide. Based on the Web of Science database, the total SCI- indexed papers surged from 971 in 2000 to 13, 546 in 2014, and the momentum remains strong. One of the most active and productive research fields has been environmental applications and implications of nanomaterials and nanotechnologies. Environmental nanotechnologies have shown great potential to fundamentally change the conventional practices in environmental cleanup. While the development of innovative cleanup technologies continues to evolve, our understanding of the environmental implications/impacts associated with the booming applications of nanotechnologies in various fields has also deepened. The objectives of this special issue were to： 1） promote exchanges of ideas and information on the latest development of environmental nanotechnologies, 2） facilitate development of more cost-effective and ＂greener＂ cleanup technologies based on innovative nanomaterials and nanotechnologies, 3） address limitation and potential environmental impacts of nanotechnologies and nanomaterials, and 4） identify major knowledge gaps and research directions.
Since the launch of the U.S. National Nanotechnology Initiative （NNI） in 2000, research and development in nanotechnology innovation has come a long way worldwide. Based on the Web of Science database, the total SCI- indexed papers surged from 971 in 2000 to 13, 546 in 2014, and the momentum remains strong. One of the most active and productive research fields has been environmental applications and implications of nanomaterials and nanotechnologies. Environmental nanotechnologies have shown great potential to fundamentally change the conventional practices in environmental cleanup. While the development of innovative cleanup technologies continues to evolve, our understanding of the environmental implications/impacts associated with the booming applications of nanotechnologies in various fields has also deepened. The objectives of this special issue were to： 1） promote exchanges of ideas and information on the latest development of environmental nanotechnologies, 2） facilitate development of more cost-effective and ＂greener＂ cleanup technologies based on innovative nanomaterials and nanotechnologies, 3） address limitation and potential environmental impacts of nanotechnologies and nanomaterials, and 4） identify major knowledge gaps and research directions.
