Nanoparticles are a hot topic in materials science with enormous potential for innovation, bridging between the macroscopic world of bulk materials and the microscopic world of atomic or molecular structures. Bulk materials generally have constant physical properties regardless of their size but at the nano-scale, where the percentage of atoms in the surface of each particle becomes significant, interesting and sometimes unexpected properties arise. The Dhandapani Venkataraman (DV) Group’s approach is unique because it allows different components to be individually optimized for their behaviors on the nanoparticle scale, and then assembled into an overall macroscopic (composite) structure according to what properties are desired. Moreover, the materials the team is working on are processed from water, ensuring an environmentally friendly process.