Jiang Geyuan, Xu Guangwen, Xia Qinqin, Yu Haipeng, Zhao Dawei
Key Laboratory on Resources Chemicals and Materials of Ministry of Education, Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, Shenyang, 110142, P. R. China.
School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenyang University of Technology, Shenyang, 110870, P. R. China.
Small. 2025 Apr 7:e2412538. doi: 10.1002/smll.202412538.
Cellulose, the most abundant natural polymer, is characterized by its unique molecular architecture, which enables its strategic engineering into functional gel materials such as ionogels and hydrogels. Despite significant advancements in cellulose gel technology, especially in the area of ionogels, challenges remain in fully exploring their functional properties and broadening their applications. This review examines the development and evolution of cellulose gels, focusing on new directions in molecular-scale design for these functional materials. Strategies to enhance the mechanical performance, ionic conductivity, and self-healing properties of cellulose gels are systematically outlined, emphasizing the regulation of molecular assembly, the creation of dynamic bonds, and the design of switchable supramolecular networks. Furthermore, the emerging applications of these cellulose gels in electronic skins, flexible electronics, smart devices, and biomedical science are discussed. Performance development targets and trends for cellulose gels are identified, highlighting the potential of molecular-scale design and the role of artificial intelligence in predicting and accelerating the design process. This work proposes feasible and scalable design strategies aimed at improving the functional properties and broadening the applications of cellulose gels.
纤维素是最丰富的天然聚合物，其特点是具有独特的分子结构，这使其能够被战略性地设计成功能凝胶材料，如离子凝胶和水凝胶。尽管纤维素凝胶技术取得了重大进展，特别是在离子凝胶领域，但在充分探索其功能特性和拓宽其应用方面仍存在挑战。本文综述了纤维素凝胶的发展与演变，重点关注这些功能材料在分子尺度设计方面的新方向。系统地概述了提高纤维素凝胶机械性能、离子电导率和自愈性能的策略，强调了分子组装的调控、动态键的创建以及可切换超分子网络的设计。此外，还讨论了这些纤维素凝胶在电子皮肤、柔性电子器件、智能设备和生物医学科学中的新兴应用。确定了纤维素凝胶的性能发展目标和趋势，突出了分子尺度设计的潜力以及人工智能在预测和加速设计过程中的作用。这项工作提出了可行且可扩展的设计策略，旨在改善纤维素凝胶的功能特性并拓宽其应用范围。
