Decorating cellulose nanocrystals(CNC) with nanoparticles(NPs) allows to engineer novel CNC/NPs composites for advanced technologies and applications. NPs are well-known for their unique and highly efficient properties. However, NPs present challenges and limitations due to their aggregation, non-uniform growth, size distribution, and nanotoxicity. CNC surface overcomes most of these drawbacks by providing an attractive matrix/template to grow NPs of desirable morphology, distribution, and functionality. CNC has distinctive properties such as biodegradability, high surface area, low cost, good mechanical strength, surface functionality, and chiral nematic self-assembly. CNC/NPs composites combine the unique properties of both CNC and NPs. This review highlights the unique characteristics of CNC, NPs, and their composites for energy, catalysis, and biomedical applications. First, different production methods for CNC with their effect on morphology, crystallinity index, and yield are presented. Both organic and inorganic NPs are used to decorate either a pristine or a functionalized CNC surface. In situ nucleation and growth methods are compared with the direct incorporation of pre-formed NPs on the CNC surface. Applications of CNC/NPs composites are reviewed for energy storage material, conductive materials, catalysts, antibacterial agents, biosensors, and bioimaging. Finally, the current challenges and perspectives are presented for unleashing new possibilities in developing functional CNC-NPs composites.

中文翻译：

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用于能源、催化和生物医学应用的纳米颗粒装饰纤维素纳米晶体 （CNC） 复合材料


用纳米颗粒 （NPs） 装饰纤维素纳米晶体 （CNC） 可以设计出用于先进技术和应用的新型 CNC/NPs 复合材料。NP 以其独特而高效的特性而闻名。然而，NP 由于其聚集、不均匀生长、尺寸分布和纳米毒性而存在挑战和局限性。CNC 表面通过提供有吸引力的基质/模板来培养具有所需形态、分布和功能的 NP，从而克服了大部分这些缺点。CNC 具有生物降解性、高表面积、低成本、机械强度好、表面功能性、手性向列自组装等独特性能。CNC/NPs 复合材料结合了 CNC 和 NPs 的独特特性。本文重点介绍了 CNC、NPs 及其复合材料在能源、催化和生物医学应用中的独特特性。首先，介绍了 CNC 的不同生产方法及其对形态、结晶度指数和产量的影响。有机和无机 NP 都用于装饰原始或功能化的 CNC 表面。将原位成核和生长方法与在 CNC 表面上直接掺入预成型的 NP 进行了比较。综述了 CNC/NPs 复合材料在储能材料、导电材料、催化剂、抗菌剂、生物传感器和生物成像方面的应用。最后，提出了当前的挑战和前景，以释放开发功能性 CNC-NPs 复合材料的新可能性。