Recent advances in the application of cellulose nanocrystals

This review describes recent advances on the application of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) in selected applications. CNCs are produced via acid hydrolysis of cellulosic materials, such as wood, cotton, tunicate, or other biomass. It possesses many desirable properties, such as large surface area, high tensile strength and stiffness, excellent colloidal stability, and potential for modification due to the abundance of surface hydroxyl groups. By modifying its surface with small molecules, polymers, and nanoparticles, they can be utilized as a zero-dimension nanostructure for drug delivery, spun into 1-dimension fibers for enhanced strength, cast into 2-dimension films for flexibility, or molded into 3-dimension hydrogels and aerogels for compressibility or porous materials. The use and impact of CNCs in three industrial sectors: biomedical, wastewater treatment, energy and electronics are described and discussed, and we will offer our perspective on the future and new applications of this sustainable nanomaterial. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.