Nanotechnology ("nanotech") is the manipulation of matter on an atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scale. According to National Nanotechnology Initiative, defines nanotechnology as the manipulation of matter with at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometers.

Nanotechnology is a diversified field which involves fields of science such as medicine, engineering, technology, materials science, electronics, life sciences, etc. Scientists currently debate the future implications of nanotechnology. As per BCC report the global market for nanotechnology was valued at nearly $20.1 billion in 2011 and should reach $20.7 billion in 2012. Total sales are expected to reach $48.9 billion in 2017 after increasing at a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.7%.

According to the times list of higher education, World top 5 Nanotechnology institutes are located in USA. They are Princeton University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Harvard University, California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and Stanford University.

Research into hydride materials for energy applications typically focuses on enhancing gravimetric storage density and ion transport of the materials. However, the requirements for stationary applications such as fuel cells can be significantly different and amenable to a broader class of potential materials. Multiple geophysical and social pressures are forcing a shift from fossil fuels to renewable and sustainable energy sources. To effect this change, we must create the materials that will support emergent energy technologies. Solar energy is the utmost priority to develop photovoltaic cells that are efficient and cost effective.

Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Stanford University, conducting extensive research on Photovoltaics, Energy storage and Hydrogen storage to meet global Energy requirements. The global market value of components for PEM fuel cell membrane electrode assembly (MEA) as BCC report is estimated $383 million in 2010. This market is expected to grow at a 20.6% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) over the 5-year forecast period to reach $977 million in 2015.

The extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth is called as Mining and Metallurgy is the field of Materials Science that deals with physical and chemical nature of the metallic & intermetallic compounds and alloys. Different techniques and technologies used in the extraction and production of various metals are extraction of metals from ores, purification, casting, plating, spraying, etc. in the series of processes, the metals are subjected to thermogenic and cryogenic conditions to analyze the corrosion, strength & toughness and to make sure that the metal is creep resistant.

In 2015, Global Ore mining industry performance has been weak due to falling iron ore prices and stagnating demand from emerging markets. However, industry performance is expected to improve over the five years to 2020, with revenue expected to rise.

The study of physical and chemical process that occurs with the combination of two phases, including solid–liquid/ solid–gas/ solid–vacuum/ liquid–gas interfaces is termed as Surface Science and the practical application of surface science in related fields like chemistry and physics is known as Surface Engineering. Surface Chemistry deals with the modification of chemical composition of a surface by introducing functional groups and certain elements whereas Surface physics deals with the physical changes that occur at interfaces. Techniques involved in Surface engineering are X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy, low-energy electron diffraction, electron energy loss spectroscopy, thermal desorption spectroscopy, ion scattering spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectrometry, dual polarization interferometry, etc.

The North American market for high-performance ceramic coatings was worth $1.3 billion in 2010 and $1.4 billion in 2011. It is expected to grow to more than $2.0 billion by 2016, a projected five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.4%.

Biomaterial is a matter that is related with biological systems. The science of Biomaterials surrounds the elements of medicine, biology, chemistry, tissue engineering and materials science. Biomimetics or biomimicry is the imitation of the models, systems, and elements of nature for the purpose of solving complex human problems has given rise to new technologies inspired by biological solutions at macro and nanoscales.

The global market for nanoengineered surfaces was estimated to total $183 million in 2012 and is projected to increase to $622 million in 2017; the market should total $799.3 million by 2018 and nearly $2.5 billion by 2022, and have a five-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for of 27.7% from 2012 to 2017.

Green chemistry, also called sustainable chemistry, is a philosophy of chemical research and engineering that encourages the design of products and processes that reduce the use and production of hazardous substances.

The effects of ultrasound induce certain physical changes like the dispersal of fillers and other components into base polymers (as in the formulation of paints), the encapsulation of inorganic supplements with polymers, changing of particle size in polymer powders, and most important is the welding and cutting of thermoplastics. In contrast, chemical changes can also be created during ultrasonic irradiation as a result of cavitation, and these effects have been used to favour many areas of polymer chemistry. In materials science, the sol-gel conversion is a method for producing solid materials from small molecules. This method is used for the fabrication of metal oxides particularly the oxides of silicon and titanium. The process involves conversion of monomers into a colloidal solution (sol) that acts as the precursor for an integrated network (or gel) of either discrete particles or network polymers. Important precursors are metal alkoxides. Polymers produced under sonication had narrower poly dispersities but higher molecular weights than those produced under normal conditions. The fastness of the polymerization was caused by more efficient dispersion of the catalyst throughout the monomer, leading to a more homogeneous reaction and hence a lower distribution of chain lengths. The electrical and magnetic phenomena alter the properties of materials for better prospective in manufacturing. Plastic fabrication is the design, manufacture and assembly of plastic products through one of a number of methods. 

The U.S. market for green building materials reached nearly $40.0 billion and $43.8 billion in 2013 and 2014, respectively. This market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.5% to nearly $69.0 billion over the period 2014-2019.

Materials that can be magnetized and attracted to a magnet are called ferromagnetic materials (or ferrimagnetic). These include iron, nickel, cobalt, some alloys of rare earth metals, and some naturally occurring minerals such as lodestone.

Magnetic Smart Materials also have medical applications and it is expected that they will increase in the future. Examples are carrying medications to exact locations within the body and the use as a contrasting agent for MRI scans, assessing the risk of organ damage in hereditary hemochromatosis, determining the dose of iron chelator drugs required for patients with thalassemia, and Now-a-days Scientists are also working on the development of synthetic magnetic particles that can be injected into the human body for the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Spintronics, also known as spinelectronics or fluxtronics, is the study of the intrinsic spin of the electron and its associated magnetic moment, in addition to its fundamental electronic charge, in solid-state devices.

Global electronic chemicals and materials demand were $22.7 billion in 2005, which is expected to grow at higher rate of around 8.9% per annum through 2010 to reach $34.8 billion. 

Emerging technologies are those technical innovations which represent progressive developments within a field for competitive advantage. List of currently emerging technologies, which contains some of the most prominent ongoing developments, advances, and innovations in Materials Science and Nanotechnology are: Graphene, Fullerene, Conductive Polymers, Metamaterials, Nanomaterials: carbon nanotubes, Superalloy, Lithium-ion batteries, etc.

Total worldwide sales revenues for nanotechnology were $11,671.3 million in 2009, and are expected to increase to more than $26000 Million in 2015, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.1%. The largest nanotechnology segments in 2009 were Nanomaterials. All Nanomaterials will increase from $9,027.2 million in 2009 to nearly $19,621.7 million in 2015, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.7%.

Computational methods are becoming increasingly important in all areas of science and engineering. Applications of Materials Science and Engineering ranges from the theoretical prediction of the electronic and structural properties of materials to chemical kinetics & equilibria, or modelling the chemical kinetics & equilibria in materials processing operation. Computational materials include modelling and simulations, models of science, science of advanced materials.

The global patterning material market size in terms of value is projected to reach USD 3.86 billion by 2020, at a CAGR of 5.85% from 2015 to 2020. Patterning materials or photoresists are light sensitive materials used in the photolithography (device patterning process) processes to form patterned coating on a surface for wafers, usually silicon wafers, used in the electronics & semiconductors.

Polymer engineering is generally an engineering field that designs, analyses, and/or modifies polymer materials. Polymer engineering covers aspects of petrochemical industry, polymerization, structure and characterization of polymers, properties of polymers, compounding and processing of polymers and description of major polymers, structure property relations and applications. The basic division of polymers into thermoplastics and thermosets helps define their areas of application. The latter group of materials includes phenolic resins, polyesters and epoxy resins, all of which are used widely in composite materials when reinforced with stiff fibres such as fibreglass and aramids.

The conductive plastics segment forms the largest submarket of the overall electro-active polymers market with an expected $2.6 billion by 2017, at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2012 to 2017.