At the moment scientific research is being carried out on nanoparticles (particles with dimensions below 500 nm up to 1 nm) for their synthesis and for their application in industrial processes. Many applications can be thought of for nanoparticles materials, from catalysis to bioinorganic systems, form textile to pharmaceutical fields etc. Basically all the improvements which resulted when microparticles were developed can now be extended to nanoparticle based products with the difference that the physical and chemical properties of materials often change when in nanometric form. The most critical aspects encountered are the limits involved in using the reactions to obtain controlled particle shapes and dimensions in very short ranges.
In Advanced Research Laboratory of Gruppo Colorobbia a project for synthesis and application of inorganic nanomaterials started in 2001, two main different synthetic path were considered: the glycolic synthesis and the reverse emulsion synthesis. Nanomaterials specifically developed can be used to improve the properties of ceramic products like as porcelain stoneware or glasses surfaces reducing at the same time the environmental impact. Examples are in the "quadricromia" inkject application. Another promising field of investigation is the coating of tiles to have "glass like", functionalized surfaces: researches of a coating of surfaces to obtain special surface effects as super- hydrophobic (Lotus effect), superhydrophilic, self-cleaning properties are in progress. The materials in nanometric scale appear suitable for many application in the ceramic field were the improvement of chemical physical properties of surfaces leads to new functionalized materials. This will be reflected in a increment in the quality of life for manufacturers and customers. The industrial scale-up and the application appears difficult, nevertheless the challenge is to conquer new markets with innovative products.

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1. Thermal treatment on titania nanoparticles: time-resolved synchrotron x-ray diffraction studies on the effect of synthesis conditions and doping