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Industrial Innovation: Printable Electronics and Catalysis
Beyond medicine, gold nanoparticles are driving breakthroughs in the technology and environmental sectors:
Flexible Electronics: Gold "nano-inks" are used in inkjet printers to create conductive circuits on flexible plastics and fabrics. These inks can be "sintered" at low temperatures, making them ideal for the next generation of wearable sensors and foldable displays.
Environmental Catalysis: While bulk gold is famous for being unreactive, gold nanoparticles are highly efficient catalysts. They are used to break down organic pollutants in industrial wastewater and to convert toxic carbon monoxide (CO) into $CO_2$ in air purification systems.
Green Synthesis: To make these industrial processes more sustainable, researchers are now using plant extracts (like green tea, cinnamon, or aloe vera) as natural reducing agents, eliminating the need for harsh chemicals in the production of gold nanomaterials.