Solvent-free thermoplastic foaming for superelastic graphene monoliths

Abstract Graphene monoliths with high porosity inherit extraordinary properties of graphene and establish a versatile platform to integrate diverse materials for multifunctional applications. To date, many methods have been invented to prepare graphene monoliths, including freeze-drying and templati...

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Main Authors: Zeshen Li, Xiaotong Li, Kai Pang, Kaiwen Li, Yue Gao, Chengqi Zhang, Jiahao Lu, Yingjun Liu, Zhen Xu, Chao Gao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61123-3
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author Zeshen Li
Xiaotong Li
Kai Pang
Kaiwen Li
Yue Gao
Chengqi Zhang
Jiahao Lu
Yingjun Liu
Zhen Xu
Chao Gao
author_facet Zeshen Li
Xiaotong Li
Kai Pang
Kaiwen Li
Yue Gao
Chengqi Zhang
Jiahao Lu
Yingjun Liu
Zhen Xu
Chao Gao
author_sort Zeshen Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Graphene monoliths with high porosity inherit extraordinary properties of graphene and establish a versatile platform to integrate diverse materials for multifunctional applications. To date, many methods have been invented to prepare graphene monoliths, including freeze-drying and templating, but these predominantly rely on fluid-based process. Direct thermoplastic foaming for graphene monoliths, as seen in the polymer industry, remains undeveloped. Here, we demonstrate a direct thermoplastic foaming strategy of a graphene monolith with high elasticity and multifunctionality. The intercalation of polymers enables the thermal plasticity of graphene oxide complex solids and allows precise control of the cellular structure of the graphene monolith. The direct thermoplastic foaming method is applicable to graphene monolith bulks, 3D-printed structures, and other 2D-nanosheets monoliths. This approach provides a facile, nontoxic, rapid and low-cost route for the industrial production of monoliths comprising graphene and various nanomaterials.
format Article
id doaj-art-85367de0d0644263badceee541bd47f3
institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-85367de0d0644263badceee541bd47f32025-08-20T03:37:37ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-011611910.1038/s41467-025-61123-3Solvent-free thermoplastic foaming for superelastic graphene monolithsZeshen Li0Xiaotong Li1Kai Pang2Kaiwen Li3Yue Gao4Chengqi Zhang5Jiahao Lu6Yingjun Liu7Zhen Xu8Chao Gao9MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Adsorption and Separation Materials & Technologies of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang UniversityMOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Adsorption and Separation Materials & Technologies of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang UniversityMOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Adsorption and Separation Materials & Technologies of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang UniversityMOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Adsorption and Separation Materials & Technologies of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang UniversityMOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Adsorption and Separation Materials & Technologies of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang UniversityMOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Adsorption and Separation Materials & Technologies of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang UniversityMOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Adsorption and Separation Materials & Technologies of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang UniversityMOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Adsorption and Separation Materials & Technologies of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang UniversityMOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Adsorption and Separation Materials & Technologies of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang UniversityMOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Adsorption and Separation Materials & Technologies of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang UniversityAbstract Graphene monoliths with high porosity inherit extraordinary properties of graphene and establish a versatile platform to integrate diverse materials for multifunctional applications. To date, many methods have been invented to prepare graphene monoliths, including freeze-drying and templating, but these predominantly rely on fluid-based process. Direct thermoplastic foaming for graphene monoliths, as seen in the polymer industry, remains undeveloped. Here, we demonstrate a direct thermoplastic foaming strategy of a graphene monolith with high elasticity and multifunctionality. The intercalation of polymers enables the thermal plasticity of graphene oxide complex solids and allows precise control of the cellular structure of the graphene monolith. The direct thermoplastic foaming method is applicable to graphene monolith bulks, 3D-printed structures, and other 2D-nanosheets monoliths. This approach provides a facile, nontoxic, rapid and low-cost route for the industrial production of monoliths comprising graphene and various nanomaterials.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61123-3
spellingShingle Zeshen Li
Xiaotong Li
Kai Pang
Kaiwen Li
Yue Gao
Chengqi Zhang
Jiahao Lu
Yingjun Liu
Zhen Xu
Chao Gao
Solvent-free thermoplastic foaming for superelastic graphene monoliths
Nature Communications
title Solvent-free thermoplastic foaming for superelastic graphene monoliths
title_full Solvent-free thermoplastic foaming for superelastic graphene monoliths
title_fullStr Solvent-free thermoplastic foaming for superelastic graphene monoliths
title_full_unstemmed Solvent-free thermoplastic foaming for superelastic graphene monoliths
title_short Solvent-free thermoplastic foaming for superelastic graphene monoliths
title_sort solvent free thermoplastic foaming for superelastic graphene monoliths
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-61123-3
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