Boron based hypergolic ionic liquids: A review

The advance of space technology is deeply affected by the breakthrough of high-performance fuels. Hypergolic ionic liquids (HILs) are one of the most potential fuels for bipropellant systems. However, high viscosity value and low specific impulse of traditional N-based HILs limit their application. Recently, boron-based HILs with low viscosity become the new candidates, and their derivatives are also found to promote the hypergolicity as additives in HILs. Here, the synthesis, physical chemical properties and thermal performance of boron-based HILs and HIL-additive system are reviewed. (C) 2020, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.

Automated summary

Boron-based HILs with low viscosity have emerged as new potential fuels for bipropellant systems, and their derivatives can enhance hypergolicity as additives in HILs.