Nanocellulosic materials: research/production activities and applications

Nanocelluloses have emerged as novel materials and attracted significant interest from both academia and industry. Nanocelluloses can now be produced at pilot plant and pre-commercial scales, and even at commercial scales in some regions in the world. Successful commercial applications of nanocelluloses have entered commercial stages though their full potentials are yet to be developed. In this short communication, the applications of these nanomaterials are high-lighted, including high-volume applications (e.g., paper, textiles), high-value applications (e.g., aerogels and structure materials for aerospace), and novel/emerging applications (e.g., organic light emitting diodes, photonic films). Close collaboration between industries and the academic world would facilitate the development of commercial markets for using nanocelluloses in existing/new areas.