Synthesis of 2D amorphous carbons via energy-autonomous carbonization of polyaniline upon decomposition of HClO₄

Shen LL, Zhang GR, Zhang W, Zheng WT, Wu M, Spiecker E, Mei D, Etzold B (2026)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2026

Journal

Nature Communications Nature Publishing Group: Nature Communications

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-026-69314-2

Abstract

Despite centuries of advancement, the synthesis of carbon materials remains heavily reliant on energy-intensive thermal processes. Conventional methods require external heating for prolonged periods to overcome high energy barriers, posing challenges for sustainable large-scale production. Here we show an energy-autonomous synthesis pathway that utilizes the intrinsic chemical energy stored within a polyaniline-HClO4 composite. Triggered by mild thermal, microwave, or mechanical stimulation, the precursor undergoes a rapid exothermic self-propagation driven by the explosive decomposition of perchlorate species. This single-step process, completed in ≈0.4 s, simultaneously generates intense localized heat and a massive volume of gas, which forcibly exfoliates and carbonizes the polymer into interconnected 2D amorphous carbon nanosheets. We demonstrate that this energy-efficient method achieves carbon conversion efficiencies comparable to traditional pyrolysis. Furthermore, the reaction intensity is precisely tunable via the precursor water content, ensuring potential for safe industrial scale-up. This approach also enables the atomic-level incorporation of transition metals, creating a versatile platform for the design of catalysts for oxygen and carbon dioxide reduction reactions. This work provides a scalable, energy-autonomous pathway for carbon synthesis and offers a platform for the precise construction of catalytic architectures.

Authors with CRIS profile

Mingjian Wu Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffwissenschaften (Mikro- und Nanostrukturforschung) Erdmann Spiecker Lehrstuhl für Werkstoffwissenschaften (Mikro- und Nanostrukturforschung) Bastian Etzold Lehrstuhl für Power-to-X-Technologien

Involved external institutions

Tiangong University / Tianjin Polytechnic University CN China (CN) Technische Universität Darmstadt DE Germany (DE) Tsinghua University CN China (CN)

How to cite

APA:

Shen, L.-L., Zhang, G.-R., Zhang, W., Zheng, W.-T., Wu, M., Spiecker, E.,... Etzold, B. (2026). Synthesis of 2D amorphous carbons via energy-autonomous carbonization of polyaniline upon decomposition of HClO₄. Nature Communications. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-69314-2

MLA:

Shen, Liu-Liu, et al. "Synthesis of 2D amorphous carbons via energy-autonomous carbonization of polyaniline upon decomposition of HClO₄." Nature Communications (2026).

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