Solvothermal synthesis of copper nanoparticles loaded on multi-wall carbon nanotubes as catalyst for thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

Copper nanoparticles were synthesized on multiwall carbon nanotubes, (Cu)/(MWCNTs), based on solvothermal method. The used reagents include MWCNTs, cupric nitrate trihydrate (Cu (NO3)2.3H2O), diethylene glycol (DEG), diethanol amine. Characterization of Cu/MWCNTS nanoparticles was performed by techniques of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), Inductively coupled plasma (ICP), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM).The results show that the surface of MWCNTs is covered by Cu nanoparticles, and the diameter of Cu/MWCNTs nanoparticles gets larger than that of MWCNTs. Furthermore, in the presence of Cu/MWCNTs composite particles, the synthesized Cu/MWCNTs showed 95% Cu loaded on the MWCNTs. The results showed that using 3 wt.-% Cu/MWCNTs nano catalyst lowered the decomposition temperature of AP by 121.76 °C. The total enthalpy, for this case, was 1384.46 J g -1. This work indicates that the catalytic performance of Cu/MWCNTs can be improved the thermal decomposition of AP.