Novel protonated LiCoO2 as a catalyst for the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

Abstract

ABSTRACT LiCoO2 (LCO) powders were protonated and their catalytic activity on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) was tested using differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. Powders were characterized using SEM, XRD, and BET surface area analysis to quantify the morphology and structure. The thermal analysis showed that protonated powders enhanced the catalytic activity in AP decomposition over commercial and unmodified LiCoO2, Fe2O3 and Co3O4 catalyst powders. The activation energies were investigated using the model-free Kissinger method, and the possible mechanisms governing the catalytic activity are discussed. The activation energies of AP thermal decomposition were decreased significantly by the use of these protonated catalysts. For neat AP, commercial LCO, and protonated LCO the activation energy for LTD and HTD were: 104 ± 5 kJ/mol and 143 ± 4 kJ/mol, 89 ± 4 kJ/mol and 92 ± 14 kJ/mol, and 76 ± 6 kJ/mol and 98 ± 7 kJ/mol respectively. We believe the hydrogen and vacancies in the protonated lattice act as reaction sites for the decomposition of AP.