Synthesis of carbon nanostructures in solid-flame: A review of opportunities and challenges.

Carbon nanostructures (CNSs) have sparked significant interest in modern science and industry due to their distinct properties and various carbon hybridization states. This makes them appealing for applications, including developing new energy storage devices, filtering systems, catalysts, sensors, and biomedical scaffolds. However, traditional methods' high production costs have prompted researchers to investigate more cost-effective manufacturing techniques. Among these, self-propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) has emerged as a promising option, using various carbon-based precursors as feedstock. This manuscript is the first comprehensive attempt to summarize and review a variety of carbon nanostructures synthesized using the SHS method. The review begins with an overview of carbon nanostructure characteristics and fabrication techniques, then delves into the main features of the SHS synthesis method and its suitability for CNS fabrication. It then looks at current approaches for CNS synthesis using the SHS, categorizing them based on the type of carbon precursors used. This analysis includes combustion thermodynamics, adiabatic temperatures and equilibrium phases; experimentally measured combustion temperatures and wave velocities; and combustion reaction chemistry. Simultaneously, we discuss the morphology, phase composition, and other physical-chemical properties of CNS synthesized using SHS. A dedicated section investigates the performance of CNSs in energy storage devices, catalysis, waste adsorption, and polymer reinforcement. Finally, we discuss methodological challenges, opportunities, and future research directions, offering a comprehensive overview of the current state and potential areas for research in this field. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]