Introducing zinc oxide nanoparticles and describing a number of its non-biological applications in engineering sciences

Zinc oxide nanomaterials are non-toxic, environmentally friendly, biodegradable, low-cost and easily available. This nanomaterial has special physical, chemical, optical and electrical properties. It also has various synthesis methods that can modify the produced nanoparticles with organic, polymeric and metallic materials according to the required application and purpose and improve their properties and compatibility and use them for various applications including medicine and engineering. In addition, it has different structures or shapes on the nano scale and they can be produced in one, two or three dimensions in nano form. All these features have made these nanomaterials to be used in improving the properties of various materials and applications such as plastic and rubber materials, food and health, pharmaceutical and medical, paint, construction and many other applications. Therefore, this article briefly talks about the engineering or non-engineering applications of zinc oxide nanoparticles, such as applications in polymer industries, paper, sensors, making catalysts, absorbing heavy metals and oil industry.