Emerging dissolving strategy of cellulose nanomaterial for flexible electronics sensors in wearable devices: a review

Flexible electronic sensors have recently garnered significant attention in the areas of soft robotics, artificial intelligence, and biomedical devices. The chemical processing of cellulose presents significant challenges due to the intricate nature of cellulosic biopolymer networks, cellulose type I crystal structure, and extensive non-covalent interactions among molecules. Cellulose is not readily meltable and is insoluble in common solvents, however, through proper physical treatment or chemical modification, its derivatives can be effectively dispersed or dissolved in solvents. This paper provides (1) a brief overview of the structural characteristics of cellulose, (2) the advantages and disadvantages of three solvents, and (3) various key roles played by cellulose nanomaterials in the field of sensor technology. Furthermore, it addresses complexities and obstacles associated with cellulose and biomaterials, as well as their potential applications in healthcare and implantable sensing areas.