Unusual Cu–Co/GO Composite with Special High Organic Content Synthesized by an in Situ Self-Assembly Approach: Pyrolysis and Catalytic Decomposition on Energetic Materials

Abstract

An interesting Cu−Co/GO composite with special high organic content was accidentally fabricated for the first time via a one-pot solvothermal method in the mixed solvent of isopropanol and glycerol. The Cu−Co/GO composite was calcined separately in three different atmospheres (air, nitrogen, and argon) and further investigated by a series of characterization techniques. The results indicate that the spinel phase nano-CuCo 2 O 4 composite, nanometal oxides (CuO and CoO), and nanometal mixture of Cu and Co were unexpectedly formed after calcination in air, N 2 , and Ar atmospheres, respectively, and the possible reaction mechanism was discussed. The specific mass losses of the Cu−Co/GO composite calcined in air, N 2 , and Ar atmospheres were 28.14 %, 21.68 %, and 23.76 %, respectively. The catalytic decomposition performances of the as-prepared samples for cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX) and the mixture of nitrocellulose (NC) and RDX (NC + RDX) were investigated and compared via DSC method, and the results demonstrate that Cu−Co/GO composites obviously decrease the thermal decomposition temperature of RDX from 242.3 to 236.5 (before calcination), 238.6 (air), 235.8 (N 2 ), and 228.6 °C (Ar), respectively. Cu−Co/GO(Ar) composite exhibits the best catalytic decomposition performance among all samples, which makes the decomposition temperature of RDX and NC + RDX decrease by 13.7 and 4.9 °C and the apparent activation energy of decomposition for RDX decrease by 110.1 kJ/mol. The enhanced catalytic performance of Cu−Co/GO(Ar) composite could be attributed to the smaller particle size, better crystallinity, and specific welldispersed metal atoms, whereas the Cu−Co/GO(air) composite after air calcination presents a bad catalytic performance due to the removal of GO.

Atomistic insight into enhanced thermal decomposition of energetic material on graphene oxide

“…In order to improve the decomposition and subsequent combustion of RDX, a common strategy is to add nano-sized energetic additives due to their large specific surface areas and excellent catalytic effects. Instead of the conventional metal/metal oxide compound catalysts, graphene oxide (GO)-based nanocomposites have attracted increasing attention as novel additives for RDX, which can suppress the aggregation of nanoparticles and further enhance the catalytic performance [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] . Additionally, GO is exothermic and energetically involved in the combustion process releasing extra energy owing to its functional groups [10] .…”

“…It was reported that the burning rate was remarkably enhanced and the plateau combustion was achieved, which is important for practical applications. The thermal decomposition of RDX on NGO (nitrated GO) [4] , Cu-Co/GO [5] , CuFe 2 O 4 /GO [6] , Bi 2 WO 6 /GO [7] , MgWO 4 /GO [8] and MgFe 2 O 4 /GO [9] was investigated in a similar way. The results from these studies all showed different levels of decrease in both thermal decomposition temperature and activation energy.…”

Unveiling the unprecedented catalytic capability of micro-sized Co-ZIF-L for the thermal decomposition of RDX by 2D-structure-induced mechanism reversal

“…[1][2][3] Nowadays, the widely used combustion catalysts mainly include metal oxides, [4][5][6] metal salts, 7,8 metal complexes, 9,10 carbon materials 11,12 and various composite catalysts. [13][14][15][16] Compared with the above-mentioned catalysts, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have unique advantages in catalytic combustion reactions, thus becoming an increasingly hot material as a combustion catalyst in recent years. [17][18][19][20] Firstly, MOFs (especially stable MOFs 21,22 ) possess an ordered and controllable porous structure, which can help to realize selective adsorption and reaction of different reactants and intermediates.…”

Preparation of different morphology Cu/GO nanocomposites and their catalytic performance for thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

“…are more active in the thermal decomposition of AP than commonly used transition metal oxide nanoparticles. [14][15][16][17] Nevertheless, due to their small size, high surface activity, and easy agglomeration, transition metal oxide nanoparticles and transition metal nanoparticles cannot fully contact the medium and reduce the catalytic activity, which is not conducive to the combustion of the propellant, and many excellent properties of nanomaterials are lost. 18,19 Loading them on 2D materials is an effective means to suppress nanoparticle agglomeration.…”