Well-dispersed ultrafine Mn3O4 nanoparticles on graphene as a promising catalyst for the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

Mn3O4-graphene (Mn3O4-GR) hybrids were synthesized using a one-step strategy under solvothermal conditions. During this process graphene oxide (GO) was reduced to GR and at the same time ultrafine Mn3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) with a size of similar to 10 nm were uniformly anchored on the GR sheets. The Mn3O4-GR hybrids showed promising catalytic effects for the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP). The decomposition temperature was decreased by 141.9 degrees C and only one decomposing step was observed instead of common two in reported literature. This improved performance in the catalytic reaction is closely related to the synergistic effect of Mn3O4 and GR. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.