A new precursor strategy to prepare ZnCo2O4 nanorods and their excellent catalytic activity for thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

We present a new preparation of zinc cobaltite (ZnCo2O4) nanorods via a hydrothermal-annealing method. Zinc cobalt oxalate (ZnCo2(C2O4)3·6H2O) nanorods as the precursor have been firstly synthesized by solvothermal method at 120 °C using the mixed solvents as the reaction medium without the assistance of soft/hard template. It is found that the mixed solvent plays an important role for zinc cobalt oxalate precursor nanorods and 1D growth of zinc cobalt oxalate precursor is gradually improved with the increasing ethylene glycol (EG) in the mixed solvent. The as-prepared zinc cobalt oxalate precursor (ZnCo2(C2O4)3·6H2O) nanorods can convert to 1D zinc cobaltite (ZnCo2O4) nanostructures while maintaining original frame structure. The obtained samples are characterized by means of XRD, SEM, TEM and HRTEM. Furthermore, the effect of zinc cobaltite (ZnCo2O4) nanostructures on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) is investigated by differential thermal analysis (DTA). The results show that the addition of zinc cobaltite (ZnCo2O4) nanorods to AP remarkably decreases the decomposition temperature. The as-prepared zinc cobaltite (ZnCo2O4) nanorods are promising as a high-performing ballistic modifier in AP-based composite solid rocket propellants.