IMB-CNM takes part in the elaboration of the Nanotechnology White Paper III

The volume has been coordinated by Jordi Díaz Marcos (UB), Joan Mendoza Gonzálvez (CCiTUB), and Pedro A. Serena Domingo (ICMM, CSIC), and brings together contributions from a wide range of specialists within the research community of the SustainableNano (SNSSN) network, which comprises 13 research centers. Among them, IMB-CNM has contributed its expertise to three of the six chapters that highlight how nanotechnology is key to building a sustainable future.

Nanotechnology is a scientific discipline that studies and manipulates matter at the nanometric scale, that is, at dimensions below one millionth of a meter. Although this scale is far beyond what the human eye can distinguish, nanoscale effects can have visible and significant impacts at larger scales. A paradigmatic example can be found in nature: the intense blue color of the Morpho butterfly’s wings is not due to pigments, as is the case with the green color of plants—produced by chlorophyll. Instead, the wings contain nanometric structures that interact with light in such a way as to produce exceptionally bright colors.

“In everyday life, nanotechnology is already present in a wide range of products and applications, such as antimicrobial coatings, advanced materials, and nanoparticles used in food products and cosmetics. Thanks to the ability to manipulate matter at this scale, it is possible to optimize and enhance its properties, which is key to addressing global challenges such as resource scarcity and climate change.

The Nanotechnology White Paper III aims to build a bridge between nanoscience and society. With a rigorous outreach-oriented approach, the publication reviews the most recent developments in nanoscience, placing a strong emphasis on sustainability and on the role of nanoscience as a driver of progress that takes into account the natural and social context of our time.

IMB-CNM’s contribution was coordinated by researcher Iñigo Martín Fernández, a member of the NanoNEMS research group. In total, six researchers from the institute participated in the preparation of three chapters of the book, sharing their expertise and research in areas such as air and water quality sensors; agriculture and food analysis and management; operational improvements and changes in cleanroom infrastructure; developments in sustainable energy conversion; and alternative micro- and nanoelectronic substrates, including those based on biodegradable materials.

The specific contributions of IMB-CNM experts are distributed as follows:

• Xavier Jordà Sanuy, Marc Salleras Freixes, and Emma Solà Marimon have participated in chapter 3, “Energy and sustainability”.
• Mar Álvarez Sánchez has contributed to chapter 5,  “Present and future developments towards a sustainable nanomedicine".
• Iñigo Martín Fernández and Gemma Rius Suñé have participated in chapter 6, “The role of TIC in the sustainable development”.

As an institution, IMB-CNM is committed both to the scientific developments required by sustainability and to making this knowledge accessible to everyone. Initiatives such as this White Paper seek to bring nanotechnology closer to society, ensure that the developments carried out in our country are widely known, and contribute to building a more informed and critical society that is resilient to pseudoscientific narratives, which are increasingly common today. This book represents a firm step forward in that direction, and IMB-CNM is proud to be part of this collective effort.