Nanomaterial Doping: Chemistry and Strategies for Agricultural Applications

Nanotechnology has already begun to influence the lives of people globally through its tremendous potential to build energy-efficient systems, clean the environment, and promote human well-being. The application of nanotechnology to agriculture is a relatively new concept, but it has the potential for a revolutionary transformation. Nanomaterials exhibit unique electrical, optical, chemical, and structural characteristics that can underpin multi-interdisciplinary applications. However, several nanomaterial properties require precise tuning to achieve their intended functions. Doping, through the incorporation of specific entities such as individual ions into nanostructures, has been identified as an avenue for the enhancement of their properties. In the doping process, the selection of suitable dopants and their entrapped quantity are key factors that are required for the desired application. The limitations for use associated with nanomaterial properties can be mitigated by adopting doping as a method for the development of desired properties for both crop protection and improvement. Unlike the fields of electronics, energy, and medicine, the agriculture sector has yet to explore the full potential of these types of nanoscale materials. Presently, we are at an early stage in the development of nanomaterial-based products for agriculture, and further research, investment, and effort are required to establish these advanced technologies for smart farming. Doping methodologies can now be applied to build innovative nanomaterials for agricultural applications. In this review, we discuss the fundamentals of the chemistry behind doping and how we can use this platform for manipulating nanomaterials and identifying routes for doping, and then how we can use doped nanoparticles for agricultural applications.