Modification strategies for cellulose-based anion exchange membranes

Sustainable biomass materials are at the forefront of green technologies across energy conversion, water purification and chemical processes. These materials, which are derived from renewable resources, present distinct advantages of cost-effectiveness, tunable properties and biodegradability with advances in nanotechnology and molecular simulations. Cellulose is the most plentiful biomass material and has garnered significant attention for its excellent mechanical strength, chemical stability, and biocompatibility. Compared with traditional petroleum-based polymers, the affordability and reduced carbon footprint of cellulose resonate better with the demand of anion exchange membrane (AEM) development. In this review, we focus on the progress of cellulose-based AEMs and discuss whether they have the potential to be disruptive cross-disciplinary materials. From the perspective of the cellulose molecular structure, we expound on its distinctive advantages and the inherent challenges encountered in AEM applications. To address these challenges, improved strategies including chemical modification, cross-linking and compounding of cellulose, along with membrane-forming methods, are discussed. Moreover, we emphasize the importance of strategic modifications and rational composite design for optimizing the performance of cellulose-based AEMs. This facilitates the phasing out of petroleum-based materials with renewable alternatives.