Synthesis of α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles by dry high-energy ball-milling method and investigation of their catalytic activity

Abstract

In this research, hematite nanoparticles (α-Fe2O3 NPs) with spherical morphology were synthesized by high-energy ball-milling method for different milling times (40 and 60 h) at dry medium. The synthesized α-Fe2O3 NPs were characterized by X-ray diffraction and field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) techniques. An average particle size (APS) of α-Fe2O3 NPs after 40 and 60 h is estimated to be about 23 and 20 nm, respectively. The FE-SEM images of AP + α-Fe2O3 nanocomposites affirm the nearly spherical structure with APS of 80–120 μm without any agglomeration. Thermal analysis investigation was illustrated; the α-Fe2O3 NPs exhibit excellent promoting effect on thermal decomposition properties of ammonium perchlorate (AP) particles. The differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry analysis results showed that α-Fe2O3 NPs with 20 nm had an excellent catalytic effect on the AP thermal decomposition property and by adding 5% additive, decomposition temperatures decreased by 61 °C, and the heat of decomposition increased by 482 J g−1, respectively. The kinetics and thermodynamic parameters obtained by Kissinger, Boswell, Ozawa and Starink methods were shown that in the presence of α-Fe2O3 NPs a considerable reduction in the apparent activation energy of thermal decomposition processes was occurred.