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

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a fast, energy-efficient method to create carbon nanosheets using a polyaniline-HClO4 composite, enabling scalable and sustainable carbon synthesis.

## Contribution

The novel energy-autonomous synthesis method uses intrinsic chemical energy for rapid carbonization without external heating.

## Key findings

- The process generates 2D amorphous carbon nanosheets in ≈0.4 s via exothermic decomposition of perchlorate species.
- Carbon conversion efficiency matches traditional pyrolysis while being tunable for safe industrial scale-up.
- Transition metals can be incorporated at the atomic level for catalytic applications in oxygen and carbon dioxide reduction.

## 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.

Conventional carbon synthesis is energy intensive. Here, the authors introduce an energy-autonomous pathway using polyaniline-HClO4 composites. This rapid reaction yields carbon nanosheets with tunable active sites for electrocatalysis.