Functional Cellulose Materials Fabricated by Using Ionic Liquids as the Solvent

Cellulose is one of the most abundant natural polymers in the nature, which has many attractive advantages, such as renewability, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. However, due to the strong hydrogen bond network and hierarchical structure, cellulose is extremely difficult to be dissolved and processed. More recently, a class of novel eco-friendly solvents, ionic liquids, have been found to be able to efficiently dissolve cellulose, providing a versatile platform for cellulose processing and functionalization. Herein, we highlight recent advances in efficiently fabricating functional cellulose derivatives via the homogeneous chemical modification and developing all-biomass materials via controlling the dissolution-regeneration process in ionic liquids. The effective and environmentally-friendly utilization of cellulose not only reduces dependence on fossil resources but also protects the environment.