Nanoparticles are not solely a product of modern technology, but are also created by natural processes such as volcano eruptions or forest fires. Naturally occurring nanoparticles also include ultrafine sand grains of mineral origin (e.g. oxides, carbonates).A decisive feature that makes nanoparticles technically interesting is their surface-to-volume ratio. This ratio increases with decreasing particle diameter.

Nanoparticles of a metal compound, e.g., a metal oxide, a doped metal compound, and a metal complex, are widely used in the fields of chemical catalysts, optoelectronic materials, optical materials, sensor materials, flame retardant materials, electrode materials and others. Such nanoparticles are provided in various shapes which include, e.g., spherical particles, nanofibers, and nanosheets having enhanced surface activity.

Metal compounds are extensively used as flame retardants; their key advantage consists in that no toxic combustion products are released during combustion and exploitation of the composite.  Most of metal-containing flame retardants are effective smoke suppressants.

Metal compound nanoparticles act by forming dense protective surface layers and by increasing the yield of carbonaceous residue. Therefore, the following flammability characteristics of polymer materials are essential for assessment of their flame-retardant performance: burning rate to be determined in accordance with, coke number, temperature and rate of mass loss, and other.

Metal compounds are often used as synergistic additives to other types of flame retardants. Metal compounds of transition metals are of particular interest because of their structural, spectral and chemical properties are often strongly dependant on the nature of the ligand structure.