Preparation and characterization of copper-based nanoparticles as catalyst for ammonium perchlorate(AP)

In this study, Cu-based nanoparticles (Copper oxide (CuO), Copper chromite (CuCr₂O₄), Copper β-resorcylate (β-Cu)) were prepared in large-scale using wet mechanical grinding method and extracted by vacuum freeze-drying technology. The crystal forms were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the particle sizes were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). At the same time, the catalytic performances of the as-obtained Cu-based nanoparticles on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) were studied through thermogravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetric (TG-DSC) techniques. Results had shown that CuO, CuCr₂O₄ and β-Cu nanoparticles were showing the same crystal forms as their corresponding raw materials and had fine dispersion states with the fairly uniform sizes of 17 nm, 40 nm and 100 nm, respectively. Inspiringly, the prepared CuO, CuCr₂O₄ and β-Cu nanoparticles had excellent catalytic performances on the thermal decomposition of AP, exhibiting great decrement of high temperature decomposition peaks by 83.0 °C, 87.9 °C and 98.4 °C, respectively. Furthermore, the synthesis route and formation mechanism of Cu-based nanoparticles were discussed in details. These results are very encouraging and may lead to potential applications of Cu-based nanoparticles in solid propellants.