Functionalized cellulose nanocrystal materials and methods of preparation

A method of making a composition of cellulose nanoparticles, wherein the chemical structure of the cellulose nanoparticles comprising a glucose unit of formula I, wherein the method comprises:

• a) contacting cellulose nanoparticles with water, a catalyst suitable for esterification, and a carboxylic acid with the formula of HOOC—X—OH, and heating the formed mixture, wherein said carboxylic acid is used as both a reactant and a co-solvent with water, wherein said formed mixture is substantially free of other organic solvent;
• b) removing water to facilitate the esterification reaction;
• and
• c) adding a carboxylic acid with the formula of HOOCR2, wherein the formula I is:
• wherein R1 is H or
• wherein each R1 in formula I may be the same or different, and at least one R1 is not H;
• X is C1-C8 straight or branched carbon linker, wherein X is optionally substituted with C1-C4 alkyl, F, Cl, —OMe, or OEt;
• R2 is a C5-C10 hetero or carbon aryl wherein the hetero aryl comprising N, O or S;
• a C11-17 straight or branched alkyl or alkenyl, wherein the C11-17 straight or branched alkyl or alkenyl is optionally substituted with a C5-C10 hetero or carbon aryl wherein the hetero aryl comprising N, O or S, a C1-C4 alkyl, F, Cl, —OMe, or OEt;
• and
• n is 10-20,000, p is 1-12.