Facile synthesis of V2O3/C composite and the effect of V2O3 and V2O3/C on decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

A V₂O₃/carbon core-shell structured composite (V₂O₃/C) was successfully synthesised using V₂O₅ and glucose as the starting materials by a facile hydrothermal route and subsequent calcinations at 700°C for 2°h under Ar atmosphere. The as-obtained products were characterised by X-ray powder diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer, elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectrum, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, V₂O₃ and V₂O₃/C were explored as the additives to the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP), the key component of composite solid propellants. The thermal decomposition temperatures of AP in the presence of V₂O₃ and V₂O₃/C were reduced by 49 and 73°C, respectively, which indicates that V₂O₃/C has higher activity than that of V₂O₃.