Designing nanomaterials for sustainable agriculture: Introducing largely overlooked physicochemical properties

In the face of global climate change, there has been an increasing focus on sustainable agriculture. The interaction between modern agricultural research and materials science presents opportunities to manipulate plants at the atomic level. With the rapid advancement of nanotechnology in agriculture, researchers have recognized the potential of nanomaterials to regulate plant physiological and biochemical processes, facilitate efficient chemical delivery, and monitor growth status in real-time. However, only a limited range of material properties has been explored among the diverse array of nanomaterials available. In this review, we examine the applications of nanomaterials in plants through the lenses of catalytic properties, morphology, photoluminescence, and remote controllability. We aim to offer new insights into the interactions between nanomaterials and plants while providing strategies for promoting sustainable agriculture.