Janus Nanomaterials: Design, Synthesis and Applications for Oil Industry

Anisotropic nanomaterials composed of two halves of different structure, chemistry, or polarity, known as Janus nanomaterials, have distinct properties compared to symmetrically functionalized analogues and therefore have recently been paid significant attention in many applications such as electronic thin films, drug delivery, sensors, optics, oil/water separation membranes, photoactivated micromotors, photocatalysts, and interfacial modification. However, it remains a big challenge to synthesize the Janus nanostructures in large quantity with precise turnability of surface property. In this review, we summarize and discuss rational design and fabrication of Janus nanostructures, especially the methods for scale-up synthesis. Current progress on application of the Janus nanomaterials for oilfield chemistry in oil industry is discussed and prospected.