ABSTRACT
Nanotechnology embraces many different fields and specialties, including engineering, physics, chemistry, electronics, and medicine, among others. Processes and functionality take place at the nanoscale and the resulting nanomaterial exhibits properties exceeding and sometimes even not available in the conventional materials. The chapter presents different methods of synthesizing nanomaterials in order to control particle size, particle shape and composition and degree of particle. Given the chemical composition, nanomaterials can be divided into the following categories: the crystals and grain boundaries having the same chemical composition; the crystals having a different chemical composition; and grains and a grain boundary phases having a different composition. The microemulsion method is one of the most versatile preparation techniques which enable control of particle properties such as size, geometry, morphology, homogeneity, and surface area. Nanoparticles can be synthesized using plant extracts, bacteria, fungi, yeast, and biological particles.
