Cellulose scaffold: A green template for the controlling synthesis of magnetic inorganic nanoparticles

► Cellulose nanofibrils had been used as sacrificial templates for the synthesis of Fe2O3 nanoparticles. ► The Fe2O3 nanoparticles had small particle size and novel magnetic responbility. ► Cellulose scaffolds can be used as templates for the synthesis of Fe2O3 nanoparticles. ► The method was green, and many other functional nanoparticles could be prepared routinely.