Nanoscience and nanotechnology promise to revolutionize many areas within science and technology ranging from electronics to medicine because unprecedented size-dependent material properties are being discovered in nanoscale materials. These properties can be harnessed to produce entirely new materials and devices, including sensors, electronic and optical materials, adaptive materials and nanocomposites. Given the predicted widespread use of nanomaterials, concerns have arisen about the biological and environmental impact of the materials and the processes used to manufacture them. Green nanoscience, pioneered at the University of Oregon, applies the principles of green chemistry to nanoscience in order to rationally design safe, yet high performance nanoscale materials, develop efficient and inexpensive manufacturing approaches to these materials, and incorporate nanoscale materials into high-performance microscale or larger devices. This approach will simultaneously meet society's need for high performance materials while protecting human health and minimizing harm to the environment.

ONAMI Safer Nanomaterials and Nanomanufacturing Initiative

The Safer Nanomaterials and Nanomanufacturing Initiative [SNNI] aims implement the principles of green nanoscience to address three objectives:

[i] design environmentally-benign nanoparticles designed for use in electronic and optical applications, such as sensing, optics, and photovoltaics
[ii] develop greener methods for large-scale nanoparticle production
[iii] discover efficient approaches for interfacing nanoparticles with each other or with other components in functional devices

Each of these objectives is critical to the development of safe, yet high performance applications of nanoscience and nanotechnology. [links in green]

1. Designing benign nanoparticles:
   Develop synthetic methods to control nanoparticle composition, size, shape and functionality. Investigate the biological effects of well-defined nanoparticle samples and use this knowledge to design safer nanoparticles.
2. Developing greener nanomanufacturing of engineered nanoparticles:
   Investigate the mechanisms of nanoparticle production. Develop microreactors for efficient, scaleable production of structurally-defined, functionalized nanoparticles. Use the ISO (In Vitro Selection on Sufaces) device to control the size and shape of nanoparticles.
3. Interfacing nanoparticles and nanostructures for device applications:
   Identify environmentally-benign chemical strategies to incorporate nanoparticles and nanostructures into extended arrays of devices that preserve, or enhance, the properties of the nanoparticles in applications in electronics, optics and sensing.