4. Conclusion

The characterization of nano-objects is now indispensable in many fields, from medicine to materials science. The increasing use of nano-objects to modify the properties of various materials requires ever greater knowledge of the composition, morphology and size of nano-objects, nanocoatings or nanocomposites. The risks inherent in handling nanomaterials are not yet well defined. It is therefore necessary to detect the presence of nano-objects in the working environment and to put in place effective protective measures for personnel handling nano-objects. Currently, instruments and techniques originally designed for larger particles are being used to measure nano-objects successfully, although a revision of protocols, further validation and/or a good understanding of instrumental performance are essential in most cases. Given the modification of many properties linked to nanometre size,...