Nanocellulose: Opening a new era of green materials science

Today, when sustainable development has become a global consensus, nanocellulose, as a revolutionary bio-based nanomaterial, is reshaping the future picture of materials science. This nanomaterial derived from natural cellulose not only inherits the characteristics of renewable, degradable, non-toxicity, but also opens a new era of materials science with its unique nano-effect. According to a review by Habibi et al. (2010) of the international nanocellulose research authoritative, in the Chemical Society Reviews, the breakthrough progress of nanocellulose is promoting the transformation of materials science towards green, functional and intelligent directions.

1. Revolutionary breakthrough of nanocellulose

The preparation technology of nanocellulose has achieved a leapfrog breakthrough from microns to nanometers. Nanocellulose crystals with a diameter of 5-20 nm and a length of 100-500 nm can be obtained by acid hydrolysis. The crystallinity is as high as 90%, the elastic modulus reaches 150 GPa, which is close to the theoretical limit (Dufresne, 2013, Nano Letters). Mechanical grinding method can prepare nanocellulose fibers with a diameter of 20-100 nm and a length of 0.5-5 μm, with a specific surface area of ​​up to 250 m²/g, providing a rich reaction site for functional modification (Isogai et al., 2011 , Biomacromolecules).

Table 1 Key performance parameters of nanocellulose

	Performance metrics	Numerical range	Scientific significance	References
diameter	3-100 nm	Breakthrough of nanoscale effect	Habibi et al., 2010
Crystallization degree	60-90%	Close to the theoretical limit	Dufresne, 2013
Elastic modulus	100-150 GPa	Comparable to Kevlar fiber	Saito et al., 2009, Biomacromolecules
Specific surface area	150-250 m²/g	Provide abundant surfactant sites	Isogai et al., 2011
Coefficient of thermal expansion	0.1-1 ppm/K	Ultra-low thermal expansion characteristics	Iwamoto et al., 2009, Biomacromolecules

2. Core value and application of nanocellulose

The core value of nanocellulose lies in its unique structure and performance. Its high crystallinity and regular molecular arrangement make it have excellent mechanical properties, providing the possibility for the development of a new generation of high-performance composite materials. Research published by Moon et al. (2011) in Chemical Society Reviews shows that the mechanical properties of nanocellulose-reinforced composites are comparable to those of traditional carbon fiber composites. The abundant surface hydroxyl groups and huge specific surface area provide a broad space for functional modification, allowing it to achieve molecular-level composite with a variety of materials (Klemm et al., 2011, Angewandte Chemie).

In basic research, nanocellulose provides an ideal model for studying interfacial effects, size effects and quantum effects at the nanoscale. Research on its self-assembly behavior, phase transition characteristics, and molecular motion laws in confined spaces are promoting the development of soft matter physics and nanoscience (Lin et al., 2012, Nature Nanotechnology).

Table 2 Main application areas and performance of nanocellulose

	Application areas	Specific application	Performance	References
Composite materials	Plastic, rubber reinforcement	Tensile strength increases by 50-300%	Moon et al., 2011
Biomedical	Drug carriers, tissue engineering scaffolds	Porosity 85-95%, cell survival rate >90%	Lin et al., 2013, Advanced Materials
Environmental protection	Water treatment adsorbent materials	Heavy metal adsorption capacity 100-300 mg/g	Voisin et al., 2017, Chemical Engineering Journal
Electronics	Flexible electronic substrate	Visible light transmittance >90%, bending radius <1 mm	Nogi et al., 2009, Applied Physics Letters
Food Industry	Food packaging, thickening stabilizer	Oxygen barrier properties increase by 10-100 times	Azeredo et al., 2017, Trends in Food Science & Technology
Energy sector	Lithium-ion battery separator, supercapacitor	Ion conductivity >1 mS/cm	Wang et al., 2016, Advanced Energy Materials

3. Future prospects of nanocellulose

Research on nanocellulose is promoting the development of materials science towards green, functional and intelligent directions. Its unique performance provides infinite possibilities for the development of new functional materials, such as intelligent responsive materials, bionic materials and quantum materials. Future research will focus on the controlled assembly, functional integration and performance regulation of nanocellulose, and explore its application in energy, environment and life sciences (Thomas et al., 2018, Progress in Materials Science).

With the deepening of research, nanocellulose will surely promote the innovation and development of materials science theory and provide new solutions to solve major challenges such as energy, environment and health facing mankind. This nanomaterial from nature is opening a new era in materials science.

IV. Specific application fields of nanocellulose

Composite materials field

Reinforcement materials: Nanocellulose, as a reinforced phase, can significantly improve the mechanical properties of polymer-based composites. Studies have shown that the addition of 5 wt% nanocellulose can increase the tensile strength of polylactic acid (PLA) by 200% and the elastic modulus by 300% (Lee et al., 2014, Composites Science and Technology).

Barriering material: Nanocellulose films have excellent oxygen barrier properties, and their oxygen transmittance can be as low as 0.006 cm³·μm/m²·day·kPa, which is 100 times that of traditional PET films (Fukuzumi et al., 2009, Biomacromolecules).

Biomedical field

Tissue-engineered scaffolds: Nanocellulose scaffolds have high porosity (>90%) and good biocompatibility, supporting cell growth and proliferation. Studies have shown that the survival rate of chondrocytes cultured on nanocellulose scaffolds can reach more than 95% (Müller et al., 2016, Acta Biomaterialia).

Drug Delivery System: Nanocellulose can be used as a drug carrier to achieve sustained release and targeted delivery of drugs. Its drug loading can reach 200-500 mg/g, and the drug release time can last 24-72 hours (Kolakovic et al., 2012, European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics).

Environmental protection field

Water treatment adsorbent: Nanocellulose has a high adsorption capacity for heavy metal ions, such as the adsorption capacity for Pb⊃2;⁺ can reach 300 mg/g, with a removal rate of >99% (Hokkanen et al., 2016, Chemical Engineering Journal).

Oil stain treatment: The oil absorption capacity of nanocellulose aerogel can reach 50-100 times its own weight, and can be reused 5-10 times (Zhou et al., 2018, ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering).

Electronics

Flexible electronic substrate: The visible light transmittance of nanocellulose films is >90% and the surface roughness is <2 nm. It is an ideal flexible electronic substrate (Zhu et al., 2016, Advanced Materials).

Transparent conductive film: A transparent conductive film prepared by composite nanocellulose and silver nanowires, with a square resistance of <10 Ω/sq, and a light transmittance of >85% (Hu et al., 2013, ACS Nano).

Food industry

Food packaging: Nanocellulose coating can reduce the oxygen transmittance of packaging materials by 10-100 times and extend the shelf life of food (Aulin et al., 2010, Langmuir).

Thickening stabilizer: Nanocellulose, as a food additive, can significantly improve the viscosity and stability of food, with an added amount of only 0.1-0.5 wt% (Winuprasith & Suphantharika, 2013, Food Hydrocolloids).

Energy sector

Lithium-ion battery separator: Nanocellulose separator has high ionic conductivity (>1 mS/cm) and excellent thermal stability (>200°C), which can significantly improve the safety and cycling performance of the battery (Leijonmarck et al., 2013 , Journal of Materials Chemistry A).

Supercapacitor: Nanocellulose-based electrode material has high specific capacitance (>200 F/g) and excellent cycling stability (>10,000 times) (Wang et al., 2016, Advanced Energy Materials).

These specific applications demonstrate the great potential of nanocellulose in multiple fields, and their unique properties and wide application prospects are driving the revolutionary development of materials science.

5. Progress in industrialization of nanocellulose

In the industrialization of nanocellulose, Nanjing Tianlu Nano Technology Co., Ltd., as a leading nanocellulose research and development and production enterprise in China, has played an important role. Through its independently developed green preparation technology, the company has achieved large-scale production of nanocellulose, with an annual production capacity of 3,000 tons and its product performance has reached the international advanced level. The nanocellulose products it produces have been widely used in composite materials, biomedical, environmental protection and other fields, and have established long-term cooperative relationships with many well-known companies.

Nanjing Tianlu Nano Technology Co., Ltd. not only focuses on technological innovation, but also actively participates in the formulation of industry standards to promote the standardized development of the nanocellulose industry. The company has established a platform for industry-university-research cooperation with many universities and research institutions to jointly carry out application research and technical research on nanocellulose, providing strong technical support for the development of the industry. For example, the nanocellulose reinforced composite materials developed by the company have been successfully applied in the field of automotive lightweighting, reducing the weight of automotive parts by more than 20%, while maintaining excellent mechanical properties.

With the continuous expansion of the application field of nanocellulose, Nanjing Tianlu Nano Technology Co., Ltd. will continue to be committed to technological innovation and product development, and make greater contributions to promoting the development of my country's nanocellulose industry. The company is building a new production line and is expected to achieve the goal of 6,000 tons by 2025, further meeting market demand and promoting the application of nanocellulose in more fields.