**Preface**

The characteristics of nanoparticles, such as their size, shape, surface morphology, crystal structure, grain boundaries, and composition, can be tuned to match the intended use. Thus, the design of nanostructured materials with a wide range of applications in the engineering, chemistry, physics, ceramics, biotechnology, biomedicine, and environmental fields represents an active area of research. Nanostructured materials are now widely used in research and industry, and their particular properties enable advanced physicochemical, electrical, thermal, catalytic, coloristic, optical, and magnetic applications.

The present Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of original research articles, communications, and reviews that focus on the development, characterization, and/or applications of nanoparticles and their composites. This Special Issue focuses on the following topics: synthesis routes for nanoparticles and nanocomposites; preparation and characteristics of nanoparticles, nanotubes, nanowires, or nanofibers; thermal behavior of nanomaterials and their composites; structural characterization using XRD, FT-IR, Mossbauer, or XPS; surface characterization via BET; morphological characterization using TEM, SEM, or AFM; magnetic applications of nanostructured materials; adsorption or photocatalytic properties of nanostructured materials used in the environmental field; application of nanocomposites for water decontamination: removal of heavy metals, dyes, pesticides, and other pollutants; pigments based on materials used in glazes; materials for high-performance batteries; nanosensors, catalysis and photocatalysis, oxidation processes, and antimicrobial activities; and medical applications of nanomaterial.

> **Thomas Dippong** *Editor*
