MXene Templated assembly of hierarchical Al/CuO/V2C nanothermite with excellent energy release efficiency and highly tunable performance

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.