Recent progress in the development of cellulose-derived organic-nanopolymer and coordination network platforms for application as optical chemosensors

Cellulosic materials are attractive hybrid combinations that avail an array of hitherto unachievable properties by conjugating with organic, inorganic,and nano- and polymeric compounds. Cellulose-based materials have established great potential in several fields, such as air purification, water remediation, adsorbents, gas storage, biomedicine and optical chemosensing. Cellulose is among the cheapest materials available and is easily modifiable into different materials. The review summarises the chemical modification of cellulose materials and their applications in optical chemosensing. The review briefs the utilization of cellulose in fabrication, doping, and modification with organic, nano and polymeric chromo and fluorophores. Cellulose-fabricated materials like films, fibres, crystals, hydrogel and coordination networks are accurately highlighted. Discussion on the applicability of cellulosic hybrids for the detection of toxic metal ions, anions, aromatic vapours, explosives, pH, bioimaging, 3D-printing, coating and anti-counterfeiting by utilizing optical sensing approaches such as UV and fluorescence spectroscopy is pursued. Finally, the elaboration of upcoming investigations, challenges and opinions observed in utilising cellulose hybrid materials for optical chemosensing applications are discussed. We believe that this review will drive more and more curiosity and attention from the scientific community, industries and laboratories working with the synthesis of cellulose-based hybrid materials for widespread optical chemosensing applications.