Materials are central to a circular economy. They enter one of two cycles, the biological (where materials serve a purpose and then degrade as nutrients for renewing natural resources) or the technical (where materials perpetuate in products, serving a single or multiple functions with each subsequent use). Given the ubiquity of engineered nanomaterials in products supporting nearly every facet of society, it is critical to consider how they integrate in these circular resource flows. In this perspective, we present an historical overview of the emergence and advancements of engineered nanomaterials as well as provide context for identifying tractable avenues for them to advance the circular materials economy. We highlight the opportunity for engineered nanomaterials to improve the performance and extend the life of bulk composite materials. We outline a specific example of nano-enabled concrete to demonstrate the opportunity and elucidate the importance of low additive amounts, high functional gain, and low additional embodied energy of the nanomaterial used. Finally, we offer perspective on future opportunities for ongoing research in our field to support successful realization of a global circular materials economy.

中文翻译：

---

利用工程纳米材料支持材料循环

材料是循环经济的核心。它们进入两个循环之一：生物循环（材料发挥作用，然后降解为营养物质以更新自然资源）或技术循环（材料在产品中永久存在，在每次后续使用中发挥单一或多种功能）。鉴于工程纳米材料在几乎支持社会各个方面的产品中无处不在，考虑它们如何整合到这些循环资源流中至关重要。从这个角度来看，我们对工程纳米材料的出现和进步进行了历史概述，并为确定其推进循环材料经济的可行途径提供了背景。我们强调工程纳米材料有机会提高块状复合材料的性能并延长其寿命。我们概述了纳米混凝土的一个具体例子，以展示机会并阐明所用纳米材料的低添加量、高功能增益和低附加体现能量的重要性。最后，我们对我们领域正在进行的研究的未来机会提出展望，以支持成功实现全球循环材料经济。