An overview of Zn/ZnO modified cellulosic nanocomposites and their potential applications

Zinc and Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are known as multifunctional materials due to their outstanding characteristics. Recently, zinc and zinc oxide nanoparticles are used in to produce nanocomposites through several methods like solvent casting, solution casting, melt compounding, and solvent volatilization. Resultant zinc or zinc oxide nanocomposites have much of significance due to their unique mechanical, barrier and antimicrobial properties. Nanocellulose zinc oxide nanocomposites synthesized by cellulosic materials and ZnO NPs are significantly used in numerous fields like biomedical applications because of having rapid wound healing characteristics. In this review paper, the importance of cellulose is discussed in the first part by explaining structural significance, sustainable sources, various type of nanocellulose, and several methods to extract of nanocellulose. The second part of the review paper gives an overview of zinc oxide nanoparticles preparation and characterization. The final and major part of review paper contributes an overview of possible applications of zinc oxide nanoparticles modified nanocellulose in several areas like in food packaging, electronic devices, gas separation, anti-UV degradation, and biomedical applications.