Cellulose aerogels have emerged as a promising class of eco-friendly, multifunctional materials, garnering significant attention due to their unique integration of high porosity, extensive specific surface area, biodegradability, and exceptional adsorption, thermal insulation, and energy storage capabilities. Notwithstanding these advantages, conventional sol–gel synthesis methods remain hindered by critical limitations-notably inadequate control over pore architecture and protracted processing times-which significantly impede scalable production. Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology presents a transformative solution to these challenges. Through digital modeling and layer-by-layer additive manufacturing strategies, this approach facilitates precise engineering of hierarchical pore structures across multiple length scales, while concurrently enhancing production efficiency and minimizing material waste. This review systematically investigates the application of advanced 3D printing techniques-specifically direct ink writing, coaxial 3D printing, and freeze-assisted 3D printing-in the fabrication of cellulose aerogels. Moreover, we explore the multifaceted applications of these 3D-printed cellulose aerogels across various domains, including adsorption, thermal management, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, and biomedical engineering. The integration of 3D printing technology and cellulose material design has opened up brand-new avenues and possibilities for developing high-performance solutions with broad applications across various fields.
Hu et al. (2026) studied this question.