The term “nanotechnology” was first used by a Japanese professor, Norio Taniguchi, in 1974. Half a century has passed since then, during which nanomaterials have quietly spread throughout entire sectors of the global economy. These particles invisible to the naked eye, which are sometimes found in their raw state in nature, such as titanium dioxide, used in food, or zinc oxide, very popular for makeup, are widely used in restaurant outlets. laboratories. This proliferation is accelerating with the search for energy savings and the development of artificial intelligence (AI) to design it. It continues to worry the scientific community and environmental defenders due to its consequences on human health.
Three main mass markets already use them on an industrial scale: electric cars to optimize their batteries, cosmetics to make creams and powders more effective, or even foods to preserve and color them. “Nanotechnology will be a game-changer, particularly in the field of energy storage, such as batteries for electric vehicles, where different nanomaterials increase storage capacity, reduce recharging time and reduce dependence on certain critical raw materials.”confirms Sean Kelly, acting director general of the Nanotechnology Industries Association (NIA), based in Brussels.
For cosmetics, “These technologies can improve the effectiveness and sensoriality of products. A nanomaterial used in our sun creams, titanium dioxide, improves the filtration of UV rays and increases the level of protection, while preventing white marks on the skin.explains Julien Hitce, director of polymers and materials at L’Oréal. In care, nanosilicas provide the best possible texture and ensure a matte finish on the skin, while nano carbon black increases the intensity of the black of the mask. “These nanoparticles do not penetrate the skin, even damaged skin.”.
In the global cosmetics market, they are present in tens of thousands of cosmetic products out of the more than 2.5 million beauty products marketed in Europe, according to the European Commission’s cosmetic products notification portal.
The rise of nanomaterials also comes from textiles and clothing, coatings, smartphones, airplanes and many other products or devices. So many industrial opportunities justified by their unique properties: chemical (more reactive, more catalytic, etc.), physical (very resistant, more fusionable, etc.), or even electrical (more conductive, more durable, etc.). In mobile phones, nanomaterials make it possible to solidify screens or increase the longevity of lithium batteries.
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