Cellulose–graphene composite hydrogels (CGHs)

Cellulose–graphene composite hydrogels (CGHs) have emerged as promising materials with unique properties resulting from the synergistic combination of cellulose and graphene. Graphene exhibits high mechanical properties, thermal and electrical conductivity, and a large specific surface area, making it a promising carbon-based nanomaterial. In contrast, cellulose is a promising material for a wide range of applications due to its abundance, renewability, biocompatibility, and low toxicity. Consequently, there has been growing research interest in the development of CGHs for multifunctional applications. Nevertheless, a comprehensive review in this area is still lacking. Therefore, this review summarized the recent advances in CGHs, focusing on their synthesis techniques (physical, chemical, and double/dual crosslinking). It further highlighted the applications of CGHs in wastewater treatment, thermal management systems, drug delivery, wound healing, tissue engineering, sensors, and energy storage. Finally, current challenges and prospects in this field were discussed.