The rapidly growing nanotechnology presents a double-edged sword to the environment. On one hand, the unusual properties and reactivities associated with nanomaterials offer unprecedented opportunities to address tough contamination problems. On the other hand, certain nanomaterials may impose unexpected environmental risks. I have particularly studied two types of nanomaterials: zero-valent iron nanoparticles (ZVIN) and carbon nanotubes in the context of their potential environmental applications or impacts, respectively. My research on ZVIN focused on the development of a novel approach to simultaneously synthesize and immobilize the iron nanoparticles having uniform and precisely controlled sizes. With materials synthesized using this approach, I discovered an intriguing relationship between the size of the iron nanoparticles and their reactivity with trichloroethylene (TCE), a typical persistent organic pollutant. I am further exploring the mechanisms that govern the size-dependence of the iron nanoparticles, and plan to develop novel nanocomposite materials for various remediation applications. In a parallel research thrust, we have successfully synthesized, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, 14C-labeled carbon nanotubes. We are using these radio-labeled carbon nanotubes to investigate a range of issues related to their potential risks for human health and the environment, including bioavailability to ecological receptors, sorption and mobility in soils, and uptakes by model human cells. In this talk, I will discuss the findings and progress of these research fronts and their future directions.

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