Nanocrystalline Transition Metal Oxides as Catalysts in the Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Perchlorate

TLDR: In this article, Nanocrystalline transition metal oxides (NTMOs) have been successfully prepared by three different methods: novel quick precipitation method, surfactant mediated method and reduction of metal complexes with hydrazine as reducing agent (Mn2O3).

Abstract: Nanocrystalline transition metal oxides (NTMOs) have been successfully prepared by three different methods: novel quick precipitation method (Cr2O3 and Fe2O3); surfactant mediated method (CuO), and reduction of metal complexes with hydrazine as reducing agent (Mn2O3). The nano particles have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) which shows an average particle diameter of 35 – 54 nm. Their catalytic activity was measured in the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP). AP decomposition undergoes a two step process where the addition of metal oxide nanocrystals led to a shifting of the high temperature decomposition peak toward lower temperature. The kinetics of the thermal decomposition of AP and catalyzed AP has also been evaluated using model fitting and isoconversional method.