Synthesis of Ni nanoparticles and their catalytic effect on the decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

Single crystalline Ni nanoparticles with high purity have been prepared by a hydrogen plasma method. These nanoparticles have wide size distribution of 8-50 nm and with average size of about 36 nm, characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and BET. It is found that these nanoparticles have significant catalytic effect on the decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP). Compared with the thermal decomposition of pure AP, adding Ni nanoparticles (2-5 wt.%) in AP decreases its decomposition temperature by 92-105 degrees C and increases its apparent decomposition heat by 787.1-796.1J/g, investigated by DTA and TG. Such effect is attributed to the large specific surface area and the active chemical nature of Ni nanoparticles. These results are useful for the controlled synthesis of Ni nanoparticles in good quality to be used in the AP-based propellant. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.