A study into the effect of POSS nanoparticles on cellulose acetate membranes

► Synthesis of a novel cellulose acetate-anchored POSS nanoparticle. ► Anchored nanoparticles showed better dispersion in the polymer matrix than unanchored POSS nanoparticles. ► Membrane compaction was mitigated for low loadings of nanoparticles.