Sustainable nanocellulose-based electrospinning: Unlocking advanced materials for future technologies
Chaoqun Xu, Bowen Li, Subramanian Sundarrajan, Yu Zhou, Yimin Fan, Chuanwei Lu, Fuxiang Chu, Seeram Ramakrishna
Abstract
Nanocellulose (NC), a renewable and sustainable material derived from natural cellulose, has attracted significant attention in materials science. With its high mechanical strength, biodegradability, and tunable surface chemistry, NC offers new possibilities for designing multifunctional materials. When combined with electrospinning, NC enables the fabrication of advanced nanofibrous systems that integrate environmental sustainability with high performance. These nanofibers hold great promise for various applications, including environmental remediation, biomedicine, energy storage, and intelligent packaging. This review summarizes recent advances in utilizing NC to engineer electrospun nanofibers, emphasizing how its unique properties, including size and surface modifications, affect fiber morphology, interfacial interactions, and overall functionality. Emerging electrospinning strategies and scalable techniques for producing robust and multifunctional NC-based nanofibers were critically evaluated. Additionally, the review explored the innovations in NC-based electrospinning contribute to sustainability by providing eco-friendly alternatives to conventional materials. Finally, by identifying key research gaps and future directions, this review underscores the transformative potential of NC-based electrospinning in advancing next-generation materials, fostering sustainable technologies, and enhancing functional performance for a wide range of applications.