Periodate oxidation-mediated nanocelluloses: Preparation, functionalization, structural design, and applications

In recent years, the remarkable progress in nanotechnology has ignited considerable interest in investigating nanocelluloses, an environmentally friendly and sustainable nanomaterial derived from cellulosic feedstocks. Current research primarily focuses on the preparation and applications of nanocelluloses. However, to enhance the efficiency of nanofibrillation, reduce energy consumption, and expand nanocellulose applications, chemical pre-treatments of cellulose fibers have attracted substantial interest and extensive exploration. Various chemical pre-treatment methods yield nanocelluloses with diverse functional groups. Among these methods, periodate oxidation has garnered significant attention recently, due to the formation of dialdehyde cellulose derived nanocellulose, which exhibits great promise for further modification with various functional groups. This review seeks to provide a comprehensive and in-depth examination of periodate oxidation-mediated nanocelluloses (PONCs), including their preparation, functionalization, hierarchical structural design, and applications. We believe that PONCs stand as highly promising candidates for the development of novel nano-cellulosic materials.