Nanocrystalline Transition Metal Oxides as Catalysts in the Thermal Decomposition of Ammonium Perchlorate

Abstract

Abstract Nanocrystalline transition metal oxides (NTMOs) have been successfully prepared by three different methods: novel quick precipitation method (Cr 2 O 3 and Fe 2 O 3 ); surfactant mediated method (CuO), and reduction of metal complexes with hydrazine as reducing agent (Mn 2 O 3 ). The nano particles have been characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) which shows an average particle diameter of 35–54 nm. Their catalytic activity was measured in the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP). AP decomposition undergoes a two step process where the addition of metal oxide nanocrystals led to a shifting of the high temperature decomposition peak toward lower temperature. The kinetics of the thermal decomposition of AP and catalyzed AP has also been evaluated using model fitting and isoconversional method.