Experimental study on preparation of LaMO 3 (M = Fe, Co, Ni) nanocrystals and their catalytic activity

Abstract

The perovskite-type oxides LaMO 3 (M = Fe, Co, Ni) were prepared by a glycine combustion method using La (NO 3) 3·6H 2O and Fe (NO 3) 3·9H 2O, Co (NO 3) 2·6H 2O, Ni (NO 3) 2·6H 2O as the raw materials, respectively, and C 2H 5NO 2 as gelating agent. The products were characterized by XRD, TEM, HRTEM, SEM and BET. The catalytic activity of LaMO 3 (M = Fe, Co, Ni) nanocrystals on thermal decomposition of NH 4CIO 4 (AP) were carried out by DTA and TG. The burning rate of the propellant modified by obtained LaCoO 3 was measured by strand burner method. The experimental results showed that the obtained products can play a catalytic role in the thermal decomposition of AP and combustion of AP-based propellant. The order of the catalytic performance of obtained products on AP thermal decomposition is LaCoO 3 > LaNiO 3 ≈ LaFeO 3. Adding 2% of LaCoO 3 nanocrystals to AP decreases the decomposition temperature by 134 °C and increases the heat of decomposition by 0.8 kJ g −1. Compared with basic propellant, the burning rate of propellant modified by 1% LaCoO 3 nanocrystals increases around 8%.