ICONN is a biennial International Conference organized by the Department of Physics and Nanotechnology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, India. During the past five editions of ICONN, it has attracted scientists and researchers across the world working in the field of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. Inaugurated in 2010, the ICONN series has become an important platform for research scholars, academicians, scientists, and students to showcase their latest and most significant findings in the field of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology. ICONN 2013, ICONN 2015, ICONN 2017, and ICONN 2019 have been successfully conducted in association with Shizuoka University, Japan, GNS-New Zealand, and ANNA-Japan and were sponsored by DST-SERB and DRDO, Government of India.

The main objective of ICONN 2021 was to provide a common platform to the young researchers carrying out their state-of-art research work leading to an interface between science, industry, and societal needs. SRM Institute of Science and Technology in association with Shizuoka University—Japan and NCTU—Taiwan, GNS—New Zealand, ACCMS, Indian Physics Association, ICS India, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research India, RMIT University Australia, and Springer Nature has organized this edition of ICONN. Various dignitaries from all over the globe including scientists, academicians, researchers, and students attended the conference. Around 1200 abstracts have been received and more than 1200 researchers, scientists, and academicians from the country and around the globe have participated in the 3-day event. To encourage the young participants and researchers in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology, the best posters and best oral presentations in each category were selected and awarded.

The main aim of this special issue is to promote and highlight recent research innovations in the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology. In this issue, we mainly focus on the current trends in the area of nanostructured materials and thin films, nanoelectronics, nanoenergy materials, nanomagnetism, nanobiotechnology, nanophotonics, etc. In this special issue, we broadly cover the current trends in nanotechnology and new strategies adopted for the rational design and synthesis of novel materials and their applications to address the present-day societal issues.