Biomass-derived materials are becoming increasingly crucial in the advancement of sustainable functional materials. Lignin, a naturally occurring aromatic biopolymer derived from plants, offers significant benefits such as cost efficiency, biocompatibility, and biodegradability, making it a focal point of research and application across various domains. As a cross-linked polymer, lignin possesses numerous functional hydrophilic and active groups that facilitate the development of lignin-based functional hydrogels (LFHs). Recent studies have made notable contributions to the design, fabrication, and advancement of lignin-based hydrogels, thereby enhancing their potential as purpose-specific materials. This perspective presents a comprehensive overview of the fabrication strategies and emerging applications of LFHs, covering their roles in water treatment, smart responsive materials, wound dressings, and wearable flexible supercapacitors/electronics. Additionally, the challenges and limitations inherent to these materials, rooted in polymer structure and chemistry, are discussed. This work aims to pave the way for future advancements in the design and sustainability of lignin-based hydrogels, ultimately expanding the possibilities for biobased functional hydrogels.

中文翻译：

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木质素基功能性水凝胶：一种环保的散装材料


生物质衍生材料在可持续功能性材料的发展中变得越来越重要。木质素是一种源自植物的天然芳香族生物聚合物，具有成本效益、生物相容性和生物降解性等显著优势，使其成为各个领域研究和应用的焦点。作为一种交联聚合物，木质素具有许多功能性亲水基团和活性基团，可促进木质素基功能性水凝胶 （LFH） 的开发。最近的研究为木质素基水凝胶的设计、制造和改进做出了显着贡献，从而增强了它们作为特定用途材料的潜力。本观点全面概述了 LFH 的制造策略和新兴应用，涵盖了它们在水处理、智能响应材料、伤口敷料和可穿戴柔性超级电容器/电子产品中的作用。此外，还讨论了这些材料固有的挑战和局限性，这些挑战和局限性植根于聚合物结构和化学。这项工作旨在为木质素基水凝胶的设计和可持续性的未来进展铺平道路，最终扩大生物基功能性水凝胶的可能性。