Light-driven innovations: Photoactive cellulose hybrids and their emerging applications

The growing interest in light-responsive technologies has led to significant advancements in photoactive hybrids, addressing critical needs across various fields, including medicine, electronics, energy, and environmental safety. Central to these innovations are photoactive materials, which enable functions such as light-driven sensing, photocatalysis, self-sterilization, and self-cleaning. In particular, technologies that improve the quality of air and water are increasingly needed, as reflected by policymakers. Recent research has focused on integrating photoactive compounds into cellulose, a renewable, mechanically robust, and easily processed biopolymer. This integration has resulted in a new class of cellulose-based photoactive hybrids that combine structural versatility and sustainability with enhanced photoactivity, stability, recyclability, and tunable functionality. These hybrids offer greener alternatives to traditional materials, supporting high-performance applications while reducing environmental impact. This review presents a comprehensive overview of fabrication strategies for photoactive cellulose hybrids and highlights their applications in water purification, antimicrobial surfaces, self-cleaning technologies, and advanced sensing platforms, while also providing insights into challenges and future directions.