Cellulose-Based Hydrogels and Aerogels: Synthesis, Functionalization, Sustainable Applications (Lecture Notes in Nanoscale Science and Technology, 41)

This book explores the rapidly advancing field of cellulose-based hydrogels and aerogels, highlighting their immense potential for sustainable applications in materials science, nanotechnology, biomedicine, tissue engineering, energy, and environmental science. With their highly porous structure, eco-friendly nature, excellent biocompatibility, and biodegradability, these materials offer remarkable versatility for next-generation sustainable technologies.

This book presents cutting-edge research on the design, synthesis, and functionalization of cellulose-based hydrogels and aerogels. It demonstrates how their properties can be fine-tuned through integration with organic and inorganic materials and examines their wide-ranging applications in sustainable technologies. Despite their promise, challenges remain in achieving large-scale production with enhanced mechanical properties, controllable modifications, and functionalization for diverse applications. To address these issues, researchers have developed innovative strategies to refine synthesis methods, improve functionality, and expand potential uses.

A valuable resource for researchers, postdoctoral scholars, PhD students, and engineers, this book serves as a comprehensive guide to the latest advancements and future directions in this growing field.

Gang Wei received his Ph.D. from the Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2007. Following his doctoral studies, he joined Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Germany) as an Alexander von Humboldt and Carl Zeiss postdoctoral fellow, a position he held until December 2011. From 2012 to 2019, he served as a senior researcher and group leader at the University of Bremen (Germany). From 2020 to 2024, he was a full professor at Qingdao University (China) before moving to his current role as a full professor at Qingdao University of Science and Technology (China). His research focuses on biomass materials, 2D materials, supramolecular self-assembly, hydrogels, aerogels, and biomedicine. To date, he has published over 250 peer-reviewed journal articles, with more than 14,000 citations and an H-index of 71. He has been recognized as one of the World’s Top 2% Scientists in materials science from 2022 to 2024.

Jianming Zhang earned his Ph.D. in Polymer Physics and Chemistry from the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2003. He subsequently conducted postdoctoral research as a JSPS Fellow at Kwansei Gakuin University, Japan, until 2005. From 2005 to 2007, he continued his postdoctoral work at the Toyota Technological Institute, Japan. Awarded a prestigious Humboldt Fellowship for Experienced Researchers, he served as a Visiting Scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPI-P) in Germany from 2008 to 2009. Since 2009, he has been a full professor at Qingdao University of Science and Technology, China. His research focuses on fundamental studies and applied research in biomass nanomaterials and functional elastomers, with a strong emphasis on translating advanced materials into industrial applications. To date, he has published over 200 peer-reviewed journal articles, garnering more than 12,000 citations and achieving an H-index of 55. He has been recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher in China (Materials Science) from 2022 to 2024.