MXene Templated assembly of hierarchical Al/CuO/V2C nanothermite with excellent energy release efficiency and highly tunable performance
Abstract Nanothermite has gained significant attention for its exceptional energy release rate and reactivity, making it a promising material for energetic applications. However, nanoparticle agglomeration significantly hinders its energy release efficiency. To overcome this challenge, we developed...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2025-07-01
|
| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60846-7 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849769383065288704 |
|---|---|
| author | Momang Tian Ke-Juan Meng Kunyu Xiong Iftikhar Hussain Xinwen Ma Kaili Zhang |
| author_facet | Momang Tian Ke-Juan Meng Kunyu Xiong Iftikhar Hussain Xinwen Ma Kaili Zhang |
| author_sort | Momang Tian |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Nanothermite has gained significant attention for its exceptional energy release rate and reactivity, making it a promising material for energetic applications. However, nanoparticle agglomeration significantly hinders its energy release efficiency. To overcome this challenge, we developed an innovative bottom-up strategy and a straightforward preparation method to construct a hierarchical Al/CuO/V2C nanocomposite. This is achieved through the ordered self-assembly of Al and CuO nanoparticles in an ethanol suspension, using V2C MXene as a template. Our findings show that the Al/CuO/V2C nanocomposite exhibits distinct morphologies based on V2C concentration: nanosheets at lower concentrations and microspheres at higher concentrations. CuO and Al nanoparticles form the first and second layers outside the V2C, respectively, due to the interplay between electrostatic forces and covalent Cu-O-V bonds. This unique structure, along with high reactivity of V2C, enables complete Al oxidation, achieving a heat release of 3156.2 J g-1 with a 10 wt% V2C addition—seven times greater than the Al/CuO control group. The concentration-dependent structure allows for tunable energetic performance, from a rapid 3-ms deflagration to a prolonged 16-ms combustion. Reduced gas release enhances safety, paving the way for applications in microinitiators and advancing nanothermite technology. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-b6752d7cd16d4f459c25db7a884b206d |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj-art-b6752d7cd16d4f459c25db7a884b206d2025-08-20T03:03:25ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111210.1038/s41467-025-60846-7MXene Templated assembly of hierarchical Al/CuO/V2C nanothermite with excellent energy release efficiency and highly tunable performanceMomang Tian0Ke-Juan Meng1Kunyu Xiong2Iftikhar Hussain3Xinwen Ma4Kaili Zhang5Department of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong KongDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong KongDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong KongDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong KongDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong KongDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, City University of Hong KongAbstract Nanothermite has gained significant attention for its exceptional energy release rate and reactivity, making it a promising material for energetic applications. However, nanoparticle agglomeration significantly hinders its energy release efficiency. To overcome this challenge, we developed an innovative bottom-up strategy and a straightforward preparation method to construct a hierarchical Al/CuO/V2C nanocomposite. This is achieved through the ordered self-assembly of Al and CuO nanoparticles in an ethanol suspension, using V2C MXene as a template. Our findings show that the Al/CuO/V2C nanocomposite exhibits distinct morphologies based on V2C concentration: nanosheets at lower concentrations and microspheres at higher concentrations. CuO and Al nanoparticles form the first and second layers outside the V2C, respectively, due to the interplay between electrostatic forces and covalent Cu-O-V bonds. This unique structure, along with high reactivity of V2C, enables complete Al oxidation, achieving a heat release of 3156.2 J g-1 with a 10 wt% V2C addition—seven times greater than the Al/CuO control group. The concentration-dependent structure allows for tunable energetic performance, from a rapid 3-ms deflagration to a prolonged 16-ms combustion. Reduced gas release enhances safety, paving the way for applications in microinitiators and advancing nanothermite technology.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60846-7 |
| spellingShingle | Momang Tian Ke-Juan Meng Kunyu Xiong Iftikhar Hussain Xinwen Ma Kaili Zhang MXene Templated assembly of hierarchical Al/CuO/V2C nanothermite with excellent energy release efficiency and highly tunable performance Nature Communications |
| title | MXene Templated assembly of hierarchical Al/CuO/V2C nanothermite with excellent energy release efficiency and highly tunable performance |
| title_full | MXene Templated assembly of hierarchical Al/CuO/V2C nanothermite with excellent energy release efficiency and highly tunable performance |
| title_fullStr | MXene Templated assembly of hierarchical Al/CuO/V2C nanothermite with excellent energy release efficiency and highly tunable performance |
| title_full_unstemmed | MXene Templated assembly of hierarchical Al/CuO/V2C nanothermite with excellent energy release efficiency and highly tunable performance |
| title_short | MXene Templated assembly of hierarchical Al/CuO/V2C nanothermite with excellent energy release efficiency and highly tunable performance |
| title_sort | mxene templated assembly of hierarchical al cuo v2c nanothermite with excellent energy release efficiency and highly tunable performance |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60846-7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT momangtian mxenetemplatedassemblyofhierarchicalalcuov2cnanothermitewithexcellentenergyreleaseefficiencyandhighlytunableperformance AT kejuanmeng mxenetemplatedassemblyofhierarchicalalcuov2cnanothermitewithexcellentenergyreleaseefficiencyandhighlytunableperformance AT kunyuxiong mxenetemplatedassemblyofhierarchicalalcuov2cnanothermitewithexcellentenergyreleaseefficiencyandhighlytunableperformance AT iftikharhussain mxenetemplatedassemblyofhierarchicalalcuov2cnanothermitewithexcellentenergyreleaseefficiencyandhighlytunableperformance AT xinwenma mxenetemplatedassemblyofhierarchicalalcuov2cnanothermitewithexcellentenergyreleaseefficiencyandhighlytunableperformance AT kailizhang mxenetemplatedassemblyofhierarchicalalcuov2cnanothermitewithexcellentenergyreleaseefficiencyandhighlytunableperformance |