High-strength, transparent and superhydrophobic nanocellulose/nanochitin membranes fabricated via crosslinking of nanofibers and coating F-SiO 2 suspensions.

•A simple and reproducible method was proposed to fabricate composite membranes.•The composite membranes were crosslinked by nanocellulose and nanochitin.•F-SiO2 can construct superhydrophobic surfaces on the composite membranes.•4The composite membranes can increase mechanical properties of pure membrane.•The composite membranes exhibited superhydrophobic and transparent properties.