Nanocellulose Hydrogels and Aerogels as Smart Sensing Platforms
A special issue of Fibers (ISSN 2079-6439).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 1637
Special Issue Editor
Interests: biopolymers; cellulose; lignin; biobased gels and porous materials; aerogels; supercritical carbon dioxide; green chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Anisometric cellulose nanocrystals, nanofibrils, nanospheres, and nanosheets are fascinating building blocks for creating smart functional hydrogels and aerogels that can even feature directional properties. The latter rely on the intriguing ability of cellulose nanoparticles to self-align in an aqueous dispersion state in different ‘liquid–crystalline’ orientations, which affords gels of different network morphologies that can be designed to respond to physical–chemical stimuli. The properties of respective gels (or derived aerogels) can be further modulated by physical and chemical (stimuli-responsive reversible) crosslinking, such as with inorganic nanoparticles like clay minerals, metal–organic frameworks, networks of (semi-) interpenetrating secondary organic polymers, or by modification with functional groups or nanoparticles capable of reporting specific interactions with target analytes, electromagnetic irradiation, or magnetic fields.
This wealth of opportunities for manipulating the properties of nanocellulose hydrogels and aerogels along with their compliance to aspects of the green chemistry philosophy have recently paved the way regarding the use of nanocellulose in many established and novel applications, including bioimaging, photonic, optical, and electrical (bio)sensing, as well as in materials capable of responding to physical–chemical stimuli (pH, humidity, and mechanical stress).
This Special Issue intends to provide a platform for the publication of the most recent original works and findings in nanocellulose-based sensor systems.
Prof. Dr. Falk Liebner
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- nanocellulose
- hydrogels
- aerogels
- sensing
- sensor platform
- stimuli responsive
- cellulose nanocrystals
- cellulose nanofibrils
- smart hydrogels
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