Due to its renewable nature, its inherent strength, and many other favorable attributes, cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) have drawn increasing attention for many potential applications. To improve the dispersibility of nanocellulose, physical or chemical modification is normally involved before or after the mechanical nano-defibrillation. Moreover, surface/interface modification of cellulose materials can facilitate the preparation of nanocellulose. Especially, it can also save energy consumption during the delamination process. The yield, features (such as structure, dimension, DP and functional moieties) can be controlled by changing the condition of chemical and mechanical treatments. The properties and application of some functional CNFs were also discussed.

Tailored cellulose nanofibers by surface/interface modification