N Charbgoo - M.S Student, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran (Islamic Republic of
M Tabibian - Professor of Tehran University, Tehran, Iran (Islamic Republic of

Nanotechnology is considered pervasive enabling technology, resulting in novel applications of nanomaterials that promise radical improvements in various spheres of life (Dhingra, Naidu et al. 2010). It is all about getting more function on less space, emphasizing on clean technology, using renewable energy and also facing facts about years of massive industrialization. It has the potential to make a big impact on sustainability. Today, Sustainability is the biggest challenge that human face. The main issue is, to be sufficiently intelligent not to destroy the fundamentals on which our life and our ecosystem are based on while improving quality of human life. Awareness from new technologies and their effect will help in this issue. Nowadays, nanotechnology has been reviewed in most sciences but the technology less has been introduced to urban planners or its usage had not been significant. The aim of this paper is to identify this technology and its role on the urban sustainability. The method used for this purpose was an analysis of data gathered through library study, so, first the concept of nanotechnology and its main ideas have been represented while simultaneously the concept and indicators of urban sustainability have been reviewed. After that, applications of this new technology in environmental sustainability have been expressed. Then to indicate clearly applications of this new technology in urban area an idea was represented and analyzed; Nanocity. In the result of analyses it has been indicated that nanotechnology with its advantages, and disadvantages can change urban environment in order to achieve sustainability but in cities it should be considered logically not idealistically besides social and cultural dimensions. Also its harmful effects on the environment should be considered. Potential solutions are seen in the form of greener nanosynthesis methods, which are called ―Green Alternatives.

Nanotechnology, urban sustainability, Nanocity, assessment