Abstract
Nanocomposite materials have appeared as appropriate replacements to
overcome the limitations of microcomposites and simple nanomaterials. There is an
upsurge of interest in nanocomposite materials due to the significant applications and
all the research areas related to chemical, physical and biological sciences. Making
composites with the combination of nanomaterials could convert them into superior
materials for the sensing analytes, such as anions, cations, biomolecules, explosives,
toxic gases, food toxins and organic compounds. This chapter emphasizes only on the
recent investigations of nanocomposite materials for the detection of toxic metals and
anions by optical detection methods, such as fluorescent and colorimetric methods.
Appropriately selected examples are discussed in detail.
Keywords: Anion sensor, Cation sensor, Colorimetric, Cyanide detection, Fluorescent, Mercury detection, Nanocomposites.