Structure–performance relationship of nanomaterials

Nanomaterials refer to a class of materials with nanometer scale (1–100 nm) in some directions where electron motion is restricted. Nanomaterials have the advantages of small size, high specific surface area, and surface atom coordination unsaturation. Some peculiar phenomena are shown, such as the small size effect, surface effect, quantum size effect, macroscopic quantum tunneling effect, and so on. Therefore, nanomaterials have a wide range of applications in catalysis, light absorption, photoelectric chemistry, and new materials. Based on their unique physical and chemical properties, we comprehensively summarize the structure–performance relationship (namely various nanoeffects) of nanomaterials, for energy and environment applications. The structure–performance relationships of nanomaterials include the following eight aspects: size effect, electronic effect, geometric effect, dimensional effect, crystal effect, confined effect, interface effect, and synergistic effect.