Energetic Ionic Liquids based on Lanthanide Nitrate Complex Anions

Energetic ionic liquids based on anionic lanthanide nitrate complexes Cat(3)(+)[Ln(NO3)(6)](3-), where Cat(+) is guanidinium, 4-aminotriazolium, 4-amino-1-methyltriazolium, 4-amino-1-ethyltriazolium, 4-amino-1-butyltriazolium, 1,5-diaminotetrazolium, and 1,5-diamino-4-methyltetrazolium, were prepared. The hexanitratolanthanate (-cerate) salts with the last two cations, which are the first CO-balanced energetic ionic liquids that are stable to hydrolysis and air, have impact sensitivities of about 27 J. These ionic liquids were obtained by an environmentally friendly, simple method using nitrate-containing precursors. All salts were fully characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and determination of thermal stability, phase behavior, density, and water content. According to theoretical calculations, these new compounds have potential as propellants.