Cellulose Nanocrystals (CNCs) Supported Inorganic Nanomaterials for Catalytic Applications

Abstract

The nanoscale version of cellulose, known as nanocellulose (NC), has emerged as a promising green material thanks to its distinct properties, including its renewability, biodegradability, ecologically benign nature, and abundant natural occurrence. Many of the beneficial qualities of cellulose are also present in NC, such as their low density, nontoxicity, biodegradability, thermal stability, mechanical properties, reinforcing capabilities, and tunable self-assembly in aqueous conditions. The surface of NC is one of their most interesting features since it may be altered in a wide variety of ways by adding functionalizing chemicals. Esterification, etherification, amidation, and urethanization (all hydrophobic decorations), phosphorylation, sulfonation, TEMPO-oxidation, and carboxymethylation (all hydrophilic surface modifications) are just some of the ways documented for surface functionalization of NC. It is possible to create NC/inorganic composite materials by functionalizing the NC surface with inorganic metal ions, complexes, or compounds. The catalytic transformation of organic molecules is one area where such inorganically modified NC finds use. An in-depth analysis of how cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) can be inorganically functionalized for use in catalysis has been done. Using CNCs to facilitate the catalytic transformation of organic compounds through oxidation, reduction, coupling, and electrocatalytic reactions has environmental benefits.KeywordsNanocelluloseInorganic functionalizationCatalytic applicationsReduction and oxidation reactionsCoupling reactionsElectrocatalysisPhotocatalysisEnvironmental remediation