Bespoke Energetic Zeolite Imidazolate Frameworks-8 (ZIF-8)/Ammonium Perchlorate Nanocomposite: A Novel Reactive Catalyzed High Energy Dense Material with Superior Decomposition Kinetics

Abstract

Aluminum is the universal fuel for solid propellants; however, its passive oxide layer could impede the full exploitation of its enthalpy. Meanwhile, common catalyst could not contribute to combustion enthalpy. This study shaded light on the multifunctional energetic metal-organic frameworks ZIF-8 with combustion enthalpy 21 KJ/g as high energy dense material as well as a novel catalyst for solid propellants. As-prepared ZIF-8 particles exhibited a highly crystalline structure with an average particle size of 40 nm. The performance of ZIF-8 as high-energy dense material was assessed to aluminum particles via integration into ammonium perchlorate (APC). ZIF-8/APC and Al/APC composites were prepared via the solvent–nonsolvent method; the decomposition enthalpy was investigated via DSC. ZIF-8 offered an increase in APC total decomposition enthalpy by 98.4%, to 39.11% for Al. ZIF-8 exhibited a superior catalytic behavior by lowering the APC high-temperature decomposition peak (HTD) by 81.48 °C compared to 70.3 °C for Al. The decomposition kinetics of ZIF-8/AP nanocomposite was investigated via Kissinger’s formula. The ZIF-8 offered a remarkable reduction in APC apparent activation energy at low-temperature decomposition peak and HTD peaks by peak by 16.5% and 30%, respectively. The superior catalytic performance of ZIF-8 was attributed to Zn+2 electron deficient centers with the exclusive formation of ZnO nanoparticles during combustion. ZIF-8 with gaseous decomposition products could boost specific impulses.