Multifunctional Bamboo based Materials Empowered by Multiscale Hierarchical Structures – A Critical Review

The global pursuit of carbon neutrality and sustainable alternatives to conventional materials has spurred intense interest in renewable biomass resources. Among these, bamboo stands out as a promising candidate due to its exceptional mechanical properties, rapid growth, and remarkable carbon sequestration capacity. This review critically examines the potential of bamboo-derived materials for advanced multifunctional applications, focusing on tailoring their hierarchical structures and chemical versatility to achieve diverse performance characteristics. First, an in-depth analysis is provided of the structure–property–function relationships of different bamboo components across multiple length scales, emphasizing the importance of species-specific variations and innovative processing techniques. Second, recent advancements in the multifunctional properties of bamboo-derived materials are highlighted for their potential applications in addressing critical societal challenges, including energy storage, flexible electronics, and biomedicine. Finally, the limitations of current approaches, including scalability and long-term stability, are discussed and future research directions are proposed to unlock the full potential of sustainable bamboo materials for a circular bioeconomy.