High-Performance Multifunctional Carbon Fibrous Sponges Derived from Pitch

3D carbon-based porous sponges are recognized for significant potential in oil absorption and electromagnetic interference (EMI). However, their widespread application is hindered by a common compromise between high performance and affordability of mass production. Herein, a novel approach is introduced that involves laser-assisted micro-zone heating melt-blown spinning (LMHMS) to address this challenge by creating pitch-based submicron carbon fibers (PSCFs) sponge with 3D interconnected structures. These structures bestow the resulting sponge exceptional characteristics including low density (≈20 mg cm^-3), high porosity (≈99%), remarkable compressibility (80% maximum strain), and superior conductivity (≈628 S m^-1). The resultant PSCF sponges realize an oil/organic solvent sorption capacity over 56 g/g and possess remarkable regenerated ability. In addition to their effectiveness in cleaning up oil/organic solvent spills, they also demonstrated strong electromagnetic shielding capabilities, with a total shielding effectiveness (SE) exceeding 60 dB across the X-band GHz range. In virtue of extreme lightweight of ≈20 mg cm^-3, the specific SE of the PSCF sponge reaches as high as ≈1466 dB cm³ g^-1, surpassing the performance of numerous carbon-based porous structures. Thus, the unique blend of properties renders these sponges promising for transforming strategies in addressing oil/organic solvent contaminations and providing effective protection against EMI.