DNP enhanced solid-state NMR – A powerful tool to address the surface functionalization of cellulose/paper derived materials

•Advances in DNP enhanced ssNMR on functionalized cellulose/paper are presented.•1D and 2D multinuclear DNP ssNMR allow inspection of covalent bindings.•13C and 15N DNP ssNMR shed light on local structures formed by cross-linking of HPC. This concept summarizes recent advances in development and application of DNP enhanced multinuclear solid-state NMR to study the molecular structure and surface functionalization of cellulose and paper-based materials. Moreover, a novel application is presented where DNP enhanced 13C and 15N solid-state NMR is used to identify structure moieties formed by cross-linking of hydroxypropyl cellulose. Given these two aspects of this concept-type of article, we thus combine both, a review on recent findings already published and unpublished recent data that complement the existing knowledge in the field of characterization of functional lignocellulosic materials by DNP enhanced solid-state NMR. [Display omitted]