Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Preparation and characterization of graphene aerogel/Fe2O3/ammonium perchlorate nanostructured energetic composite

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A novel graphene aerogel (GA)/ferric oxide (Fe2O3)/ammonium perchlorate (AP) nanostructured energetic composite was prepared by a facile sol–gel method and supercritical carbon dioxide drying technique. In this study, the morphology and structure of the obtained GA/Fe2O3/AP nanostructured energetic composite were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, nitrogen sorption tests and X-ray diffraction. The thermal decomposition characteristic was investigated by thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry. The results demonstrated that Fe2O3 and AP dispersed in the as-prepared energetic composite at nanometer, showing promising catalytic effects for the thermal decomposition of AP. For the nanostructured energetic composite, GA and Fe2O3 played a catalytic role in the thermal decomposition of AP. Only one decomposition step was observed, instead of two, which was common in previous report. The decomposition temperature of the nanocomposite was obviously decreased as well. Moreover, the total heat release increased significantly. The experimental results showed that the as-prepared GA/Fe2O3/AP nanostructured energetic composite could be a promising candidate material for the solid propellants.

Graphical Abstract

A novel GA/Fe2O3/AP nanostructured energetic composite was prepared by a facile sol–gel method and supercritical carbon dioxide drying technique. Fe2O3 and AP nanoparticles are added and trapped in the porous three-dimensional networks of GA. The decomposition temperature of the nanocomposite was obviously decreased, and the total heat release increased significantly. Moreover, the thermal decomposition mechanism of the nanocomposite was analyzed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Rossi C, Zhang K, Esteve D, Alphonse P, Tailhades P, Vahlas C (2007) Nanoenergetic materials for MEMS: a review. Microelectromech Syst 16(4):919–931

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Ahn JY, Kim WD, Cho K, Lee D, Kim SH (2011) Effect of metal oxide nanostructures on the explosive property of metastable intermolecular composite particles. Powder Technol 211(1):65–71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Miller HA, Kusel BS, Danielson ST, Neat JW, Avjian EK, Pierson SN, Budy SM, Ball DW, Iacono ST, Kettwich SC (2013) Metastable nanostructured metallized fluoropolymer composites for energetics. J Mater Chem A 1(24):7050–7058

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Asay BW, Son SF, Busse JR, Oschwald DM (2004) Ignition characteristics of metastable intermolecular composites. Propellants Explos Pyrotech 29(4):216–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Prakash A, McCormick AV, Zachariah MR (2005) Synthesis and reactivity of a super-reactive metastable intermolecular composite formulation of Al/KMnO4. Adv Mater 17(7):900–903

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Thiruvengadathan R, Bezmelnitsyn A, Apperson S, Staley C, Redner P, Balas W, Nicolich S, Kapoor D, Gangopadhyay K, Gangopadhyay S (2011) Combustion characteristics of novel hybrid nanoenergetic formulations. Combust Flame 158(5):964–978

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Shen J, Qiao Z, Zhang K, Wang J, Li R, Xu H, Yang G, Nie F (2014) Effects of nano-Ag on the combustion process of Al–CuO metastable intermolecular composite. Appl Therm Eng 62(2):732–737

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Tillotson T, Gash A, Simpson R, Hrubesh L, Satcher J Jr, Poco J (2001) Nanostructured energetic materials using sol–gel methodologies. J Non-Cryst Solids 285(1):338–345

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Prentice D, Pantoya ML, Gash AE (2006) Combustion wave speeds of sol–gel-synthesized tungsten trioxide and nano-aluminum: the effect of impurities on flame propagation. Energy Fuels 20(6):2370–2376

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Leventis N, Chandrasekaran N, Sadekar AG, Sotiriou-Leventis C, Lu H (2009) One-pot synthesis of interpenetrating inorganic/organic networks of CuO/resorcinol–formaldehyde aerogels: nanostructured energetic materials. J Am Chem Soc 131(13):4576–4577

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Zhang J, Yang GC, Nie FD (2010) Preparation of RDX/RF nanocomposite energetic particles by emulsion–sol–gel technique. Chin J Energ Mater 18(6):643–647

    Google Scholar 

  12. Wang X, Li J, Luo Y, Huang M (2014) A novel ammonium perchlorate/graphene aerogel nanostructured energetic composite: preparation and thermal decomposition. Sci Adv Mater 6(3):530–537

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Gao K, Li G, Luo Y, Wang L, Shen L, Wang G (2014) Preparation and characterization of the AP/Al/Fe2O3 ternary nano-thermites. J Therm Anal Calorim 118(1):43–49

  14. Worsley MA, Pauzauskie PJ, Olson TY, Biener J, Satcher JH Jr, Baumann TF (2010) Synthesis of graphene aerogel with high electrical conductivity. J Am Chem Soc 132(40):14067–14069

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Zhang X, Sui Z, Xu B, Yue S, Luo Y, Zhan W, Liu B (2011) Mechanically strong and highly conductive graphene aerogel and its use as electrodes for electrochemical power sources. J Mater Chem 21(18):6494–6497

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Chen W, Yan L (2011) In situ self-assembly of mild chemical reduction graphene for three-dimensional architectures. Nanoscale 3(8):3132–3137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Shusser MC, Culick FE, Cohen NS (2002) Combustion response of ammonium perchlorate composite propellants. J Propuls Power 18(5):1093–1100

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Ma Z, Li F, Bai H (2006) Effect of Fe2O3 in Fe2O3/AP composite particles on thermal decomposition of AP and on burning rate of the composite propellant. Propellants Explos Pyrotech 31(6):447–451

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Han X, Sun Y, Wang T, Lin ZK, Li SF, Zhao F, Liu Z, Yi J, Ren X (2008) Thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate based mixture with fullerenes. J Therm Anal Calorim 91(2):551–557

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Reshmi S, Catherine KB, Nair CR (2011) Effect of carbon nanotube on the thermal decomposition characteristics of selected propellant binders and oxidisers. Int J Nanotechnol 8(10):979–987

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Yuan Y, Jiang W, Wang Y, Shen P, Li F, Li P, Zhao F, Gao H (2014) Hydrothermal preparation of Fe2O3/graphene nanocomposite and its enhanced catalytic activity on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate. Appl Surf Sci 303:354–359

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Li N, Geng Z, Cao M, Ren L, Zhao X, Liu B, Tian Y, Hu C (2013) Well-dispersed ultrafine Mn3O4 nanoparticles on graphene as a promising catalyst for the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate. Carbon 54:124–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Hummers WS Jr, Offeman RE (1958) Preparation of graphitic oxide. J Am Chem Soc 80(6):1339

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Yang S, Feng X, Müllen K (2011) Sandwich-like, graphene-based titania nanosheets with high surface area for fast lithium storage. Adv Mater 23(31):3575–3579

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Ma Z, Wu R, Song J, Li C, Chen R, Zhang L (2012) Preparation and characterization of Fe2O3/ammonium perchlorate (AP) nanocomposites through ceramic membrane anti-solvent crystallization. Propellants Explos Pyrotech 37(2):183–190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Li N, Cao M, Wu Q, Hu C (2012) A facile one-step method to produce Ni/graphene nanocomposites and their application to the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate. CrystEngComm 14(2):428–434

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Zhang Y, Liu X, Nie J, Yu L, Zhong Y, Huang C (2011) Improve the catalytic activity of α-Fe2O3 particles in decomposition of ammonium perchlorate by coating amorphous carbon on their surface. J Solid State Chem 184(2):387–390

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Chaturvedi S, Dave PN (2013) A review on the use of nanometals as catalysts for the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate. J Saudi Chem Soc 17(2):135–149

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China

    Yuanfei Lan, Miaomiao Jin & Yunjun Luo

Authors
  1. Yuanfei Lan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Miaomiao Jin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yunjun Luo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yunjun Luo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lan, Y., Jin, M. & Luo, Y. Preparation and characterization of graphene aerogel/Fe2O3/ammonium perchlorate nanostructured energetic composite. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 74, 161–167 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-014-3590-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-014-3590-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation