Magnetic cellulose: does extending cellulose versatility with magnetic functionality facilitate its use in devices?

Abstract

Magnetism is certainly one of the most intriguing properties of materials. It provides a means for manipulating macroscopic and microscopic positioning and alignment of materials and is a characteristic that is essential for the creation of numerous devices and appliances. Cellulose is a renewable resource that encompasses a diverse portfolio of material hierarchies: the cellulose molecule, molecular clusters, fibrils, fibers, films, and wood products. Cellulose is exploited in materials due to its impressive intrinsic properties of non-toxicity, low density, and low cost as well as due to the extraordinary material properties of thermal stability and strength. However, many devices operate on electrical or magnetic signals, a functionality that cellulose lacks. To exploit cellulose in such applications, cellulose is often modified by ferromagnetic particles. Ferromagnetic cellulose fibers are not only demonstrated for separation of biomolecules and environmental accumulations but also in electrical textiles, loudspeakers, magnetic shielding, and optical and medical devices. This review focuses on presenting the current selection of methods for rendering cellulose magnetic; its demonstrated use in devices; and an outlook on the challenges, application, and gaps in knowledge of creating the requisite materials.