Cellulose Gels: Functional Design and Promising Smart Applications

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.