Development of Highly Active Titania-Based Nanoparticles for Energetic Materials

    Authors

    D. L. Reid; K. R. Kreitz; M. A. Stephens; J. E. S. King; P. Nachimuthu; E. L. Petersen;S. Seal

    Comments

    Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Phys. Chem. C

    Keywords

    SOL-GEL METHOD; AMMONIUM-PERCHLORATE; SURFACE CHARACTERIZATION; THERMAL-DECOMPOSITION; TIO2; COMBUSTION; PHOTOCATALYSTS; INHIBITION; ADDITIVES; CATALYSTS; Chemistry, Physical; Nanoscience & Nanotechnology; Materials Science, ; Multidisciplinary

    Abstract

    Recent advances in nanostructured fuels and oxidizers may lead to high-performance energetic materials for propulsion, but these nanoparticulates present serious challenges due to their inherent instability and safety hazards and difficulty of manufacture. In this paper, we develop an alternate route, the use of nanoscale metal-oxides to catalyze reactions between micrometer-scale energetic constituents. Methods to synthesize TiO(2)-based nanoparticles that are highly active toward energetic reactions and effectively incorporate them into energetic composites are reported. Activity was maximized by tuning the physical and chemical properties of the nano-TiO(2) dispersion in the composite. An 81% increase in combustion rate was achieved with a nanoparticle loading of 1 wt %, making energetically active nano-TiO(2) a viable material for advanced propulsion, without the hazards and difficulties of competing technologies.

    Journal Title

    Journal of Physical Chemistry C

    Volume

    115

    Issue/Number

    21

    Publication Date

    1-1-2011

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    10412

    Last Page

    10418

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000290914700015

    ISSN

    1932-7447

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