Biosynthesized NiO nanoparticles: Potential catalyst for ammonium perchlorate and composite solid propellants

A facile and eco-friendly biosynthetic method was employed to synthesize NiO nanoparticles (NPs) using leaf extract of plant Calotropis gigantea. The crystalline and structural characterizations confirmed the formation of NiO NPs. A possible mechanism was proposed to explain the formation of NiO NPs through the plant assisted synthesis. The catalytic effect of biosynthesized NiO NPs on thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) and burning rate of composite solid propellants (CSPs) has been analyzed. The Kinetic studies of slow and rapid thermal decomposition have also been done. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd and Techna Group S.r.l. All rights reserved.