Poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) was able to transport CNCs from aqueous phase to apolar organic phase. PIL has strong interactions with CNCs and these interactions are noncovalent. Through these interactions, PIL can modify CNCs and change the surface amphipathicity. PIL-modified CNCs can be dispersed in low polar organic solvents which pristine CNCs couldn’t. This method is significant to broaden application of CNCs in nanocomposite materials.