Chapter 18. “Smart” Materials Based on Cellulose Nanoparticles

Abstract

A series of procedures involving modification or functionalization of cellulose were developed to convert traditional cellulose material into functional and smart materials. Over the past few decades, three forms of nanocellulose, that is, cellulose nanocrystals, micro-fibrillated cellulose, and bacterial nanocellulose, have gained much interest. The cellulose-based materials can achieve customized properties such as electrical conductivity, magnetic properties, photosensitivity, catalytic activity, sensing ability, and other unique properties by combining nanoparticles or other functional materials. This chapter summarizes the manufacturing processes, properties, and applications of the recently reported functional smart materials based on cellulose nanoparticles.