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Naturally derived nanocellulose with unique physiochemical properties and giant potentials as renewable smart nanomaterials opens up endless novel advanced functional materials for multi-sensing applications. However, integrating inorganic functional two-dimensional carbon materials such as graphene has realized hybrid organic–inorganic nanocomposite materials with precisely tailored properties and multi-sensing abilities. Altogether, the affinity, stability, dispersibility, modification, and functionalization are some of the key merits permitting their synergistic interfacial interactions, which exhibited highly advanced multifunctional hybrid nanocomposites with desirable properties. Moreover, the high performance of such hybrids could be achievable through green and straightforward approaches. In this context, the review covered the most advanced nanocellulose-graphene hybrids, focusing on their synthetization, functionalization, fabrication, and multi-sensing applications. These hybrid films exhibited great potentials as a multifunctional sensing platform for numerous mechanical, environmental, and human bio-signals detections, mimicking, and in-situ monitoring.

There is an emerging endeavor of advanced structure-based functionality in the next-generation advanced functional materials inspired by hierarchical architecture for future technical applications. This review provides an impressive range roadmap for constructing advanced functional materials based on the nanocellulose-graphene derivative hybrids, from the top-down synthesis of their hierarchical materials to the bottom-up assembly of their nanoscale building blocks. First, the roadmap started from the top-down synthesis routes of nanocellulose-graphene hierarchical materials into their derivatives, where the pristine properties of nanoscale building blocks are still accessible and processable. Then, the stable-strong synergistic interfacial interactions between nanocellulose chains and graphene derivative nanosheets are uniquely well-suited in this roadmap for constructing scalable hybrid materials with interesting emergent properties. After that, the roadmap presented the bottom-up assembly approaches of these versatile nanoscale building blocks through self-assembly, templating, and mimicking of the bioinspired hierarchical structures toward advanced functional materials. Thereafter, toward understanding the specificity, superiority, and functionality of such hybrid materials, the roadmap discussed the properties and potential applications so far. Finally, the roadmap pointed out the key challenges and future outlooks, paving the way for comprehensive understanding and ideal designing of hybrid structures from nanocellulose and graphene derivatives.

Enhancing the properties and performance of green alternatives to ordinary Portland cement is now a significant challenge for many researchers. Alkali-activated slag (AAS) is a promising alternative because it has good durability and is both cost-effective and eco-friendly. However, high shrinkage limits the adoption of AAS. This paper investigates the potential of shrinkage mitigation in AAS paste by combining a low volume fraction of dry and water-saturated natural cellulose fibres (NCFs), which act as an internal curing agent, depending on their porous structure and hydrophilic properties, as well as fibre reinforcement to enhance the mechanical properties. Shrinkage, internal relative humidity (RH), strength and heat flow were tested; microstructural analysis was conducted as well, in order to illustrate the influence of NCFs on the AAS microstructure. The results show that NCFs effectively implement outstanding mitigation of AAS autogenous shrinkage and drying shrinkage by about 35–66·9% and 33·9–51·5%, respectively. Furthermore, the inclusion of NCFs can enhance the flexural and compressive strength by around 4·6–8·0% and 4·7–9·0%, respectively, when compared to the AAS paste. It was evident from the experiments that the evolution of internal RH, which is supposed to be responsible for the high AAS shrinkage, corresponded well to the development of AAS deformation.