Abstract
In the field of non-conventional CBRN weapons, the recent rapid development of nanotechnology and catalysis over nanosized solids provides innovative tools for the detection, protection and decontamination against these threats. By improving the efficiency of the countermeasures and by minimizing the negative effects of a deliberate use of CBRN agents, the practical application of the new technologies will readily represent a step forward in lowering the vulnerability of the civilian populations and in preventing the use of mass destruction weapons by terrorist groups or by ‘rogue states’ supporting terrorists’ activity. In such scenario, some relevant examples of nanosystems applied to the defense from non-conventional warfare agents will be here presented and commented. The key role of nanotechnology and heterogeneous catalysis for a multidisciplinary approach in counteracting CBRN threats will be highlighted too.
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Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge Prof. A. K. Vaseashta, for the kind invitation to the NATO Advanced Study Institute held in Chisinau (Moldova). M.G. also thanks the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research for financial support through the Project “ItalNanoNet” (Rete Nazionale di Ricerca sulle Nanoscienze; prot. no. RBPR05JH2P).
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Guidotti, M., Rossodivita, A., Ranghieri, M.C. (2012). Nano-Structured Solids and Heterogeneous Catalysts: Powerful Tools for the Reduction of CBRN Threats. In: Vaseashta, A., Braman, E., Susmann, P. (eds) Technological Innovations in Sensing and Detection of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear Threats and Ecological Terrorism. NATO Science for Peace and Security Series A: Chemistry and Biology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-2488-4_8
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