Innovative Heating for the Nano Age: Exploring the Potentials of Carbothermal Shock

Heating techniques have underpinned the progress of the material and manufacturing industries. However, the explosive development of nanomaterials and micro/nanodevices has raised more requirements for the heating technique, including but not limited to high efficiency, low cost, high controllability, good usability, scalability, universality, and eco-friendliness. Carbothermal shock (CTS), a heating technique derived from traditional electrical heating, meets these requirements and is advancing at a high rate. In this review, the CTS technique, including the material to support CTS, the power supply to generate CTS, and the method to monitor CTS, is introduced, followed by an overview of the progress achieved in the application of CTS, including the modification and fabrication of nanomaterials as well as many other interesting applications, e.g., soldering/welding of micro- and macroscopic carbon materials, sintering of ceramic electrolytes, recycling of Li-ion battery, thermal tips, actuators, and artificial muscle. Problems and challenges in this area are also pointed out, and future developing directions and prospects are presented.