Nanocellulose-Based Functional Materials: From Chiral Photonics to Soft Actuator and Energy Storage

Nanocellulose is currently in the limelight of extensive research from fundamental science to technological applications owing to its renewable and carbon-neutral nature, superior biocompatibility, tailorable surface chemistry, and unprecedented optical and mechanical properties. Herein, an up-to-date account of the recent advancements in nanocellulose-derived functional materials and their emerging applications in areas of chiral photonics, soft actuators, energy storage, and biomedical science is provided. The fundamental design and synthesis strategies for nanocellulose-based functional materials are discussed. Their unique properties, underlying mechanisms, and potential applications are highlighted. Finally, this review provides a brief conclusion and elucidates both the challenges and opportunities of the intriguing nanocellulose-based technologies rooted in materials and chemistry science. This review is expected to provide new insights for nanocellulose-based chiral photonics, soft robotics, advanced energy, and novel biomedical technologies, and promote the rapid development of these highly interdisciplinary fields, including nanotechnology, nanoscience, biology, physics, synthetic chemistry, materials science, and device engineering.

Automated summary

Nanocellulose has attracted extensive research attention due to its renewable, carbon-neutral nature, superior biocompatibility, tailorable surface chemistry, and optical and mechanical properties. Recent advancements in nanocellulose-derived functional materials and their applications in areas such as chiral photonics, soft actuators, energy storage, and biomedical science have been highlighted in this review. Discussion on the design and synthesis strategies, unique properties, underlying mechanisms, and potential applications of nanocellulose-based functional materials provides insights for the rapid development of interdisciplinary fields.