Fabrication and catalytic activity of ultra-long V2O5 nanowires on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

Abstract

Ultra-long V2O5 nanowires were successfully synthesized using peroxovanadium (V) complexes solution by a template-free hydrothermal method without the addition of organic surfactant or inorganic ions. The as-obtained products were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). It was found that the peroxovanadium (V) complexes can be easily transformed to V2O5 nanowires by this hydrothermal route. Furthermore, the catalytic properties of the as-prepared V2O5 nanowires on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) were evaluated by Thermo-Gravimetric Analysis and Differential Thermal Analysis (TGA/DTA), which showed the thermal decomposition temperatures of AP in the presence of 1, 3, 5 and 10wt% of V2O5 nanowires were reduced to 414, 390, 383 and 368°C (decreased by 42, 66, 73 and 88°C), respectively.