Effect of Bi2WO6/g-C3N4 composite on the combustion and catalytic decomposition of energetic materials: An efficient catalyst with g-C3N4 carrier

An effective strategy involving a suitable carrier is needed to improve the dispersion, combustion and catalytic performances of catalyst nanoparticles. Herein, a Bi2WO6/g-C3N4 composite employing g-C3N4 as the catalyst carrier was prepared by a one-step in situ hydrothermal method, which was used as the combustion catalyst of solid propellants. The catalyst's structure, morphology and its catalytic decomposition on several energetic materials were characterized by a series of analyses. The optimal ratio of g-C3N4 and Bi2WO6 was systematically determined. The results demonstrate that Bi2WO6/g-C3N4 (4:6) composite can diminish the decomposition temperatures of ammonium perchlorate (AP), cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine (RDX), dihydroxylammonium 5,5'-bistetrazole-1,1'-diolate (TIOC-50) and cyclotrimethylenetrinitramine + nitrocellulose (RDX + NC) by 25.0, 5.2, 24.0 and 1.2 (4.9) degrees C, and reduce their apparent activation energy by 59.5, 116.7, 11.6 kJ mol(-1), respectively. Moreover, the laser ignition tests indicate that Bi2WO6/g-C3N4 can effectively promote the ignition performance of RDX and RDX + NC. A possible mechanism of Bi2WO6/g-C3N4 on AP was proposed. The g-C3N4 catalyst carrier is superior to GO carrier due to its low cost, simple synthesis process, improved combustion and catalytic performances, as well as high N content. These make it have broad engineering application prospects in solid propulsion and other energetic materials. (C) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study prepared a Bi2WO6/g-C3N4 composite as a combustion catalyst for solid propellants using a one-step in situ hydrothermal method. The results showed that the Bi2WO6/g-C3N4 composite could decrease the decomposition temperatures and apparent activation energies of several energetic materials, and effectively promote the ignition performance of certain energetic materials. The g-C3N4 catalyst carrier, with its advantages of low cost, simple synthesis process, improved combustion and catalytic performances, as well as high N content, has broad engineering application prospects.