A hydrothermal method for preparation of α-Fe2O3 nanotubes and their catalytic performance for thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

A hydrothermal method for α-Fe2O3 nanotube preparation is described which requires no surfactants or templates. The crystalline structure and morphology of the as-prepared powder have been characterized by using X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that the average length, diameter, and wall thickness of the highly crystalline α-Fe2O3 nanotubes were about 200–1000 nm, 100–150 nm, and 25–30 nm, respectively. The α-Fe2O3 nanotubes were used as a catalyst for thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate at low temperature. A detailed reaction mechanism for ammonium perchlorate decomposition over α-Fe2O3 nanotubes is proposed.