Cellulose derivation and its application for sustainable lithium-ion and emerging energy-storage systems: An overview

The rapid growth of energy storage systems driven by technological advancement has intensified global energy demand. However, conventional storage technologies often depend on toxic and non-biodegradable materials, raising environmental concerns and compromising long-term sustainability. To address these challenges, researchers are increasingly turning to greener alternatives such as cellulose. As a renewable biopolymer, cellulose offers biodegradability, mechanical robustness, and chemical tunability. Recent advances have enabled its use in separators, binders, electrolytes, and conductive composites, improving electrolyte wettability, thermal stability, and mechanical integrity—thereby enhancing cycling stability and safety in batteries. Moreover, cellulose has been successfully applied in cathodes, gels, solid electrolytes, and membrane supports, demonstrating excellent ionic conductivity, water management, and catalytic functionality. Engineered modifications, including functionalization, nanostructuring, and composite integration, have further expanded its multifunctional roles across diverse battery chemistries. By combining high electrochemical performance with environmental sustainability and scalable processing, cellulose is emerging not only as an eco-friendly substitute for synthetic polymers but also as a versatile platform for next-generation, low-impact energy storage technologies. This review discusses recent progress in cellulose-based materials for batteries, emphasizing their multifunctionality, processing adaptability, and potential in sustainable energy storage. © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.