Introduction to Organic–Inorganic Nanohybrids

About materials, it is said: “the smaller the particle size, the better it is.” However scientifically, it is still a myth. Nonetheless, what we are sure of is that the characteristics of materials change going from macro to micro to nanoscale. This change is rather abrupt for micro to nanotransformation. With the advancement in nanotechnology, which started with a focus on size exclusively, composition of nanoparticles to achieve desired applications has been the focus over the last couple of decades. Different combinations of organic/inorganic moieties in the areas of environmental remediation, energy storage, water splitting, catalytic synthesis of energy materials, etc. have been utilized in the beginning of current century. However, nanoscale hybridization of organic/inorganic particles in the fields of energy and environmental as well as biomedical sciences (including diagnostics, therapeutics, drug delivery, organs replacements, etc.) has evolved recently. This chapter aims at introducing the basics of nanohybrids, the synergetic effect of nanohybridization, brief history of modern hybrid materials and their synthesis approaches. In addition, recent developments regarding their applications in the above mentioned three areas and futuristic scope of these organic/inorganic nanohybrids, with particular emphasis on bio-based materials, have been discussed in detail.