Resorcinarene-encapsulated Ni–B nano-amorphous alloys for quasi-homogeneous catalytic cracking of JP-10

• The Ni–B nanoparticle is fabricated using resorcinarene as surfactant layers.
• Quasi-homogeneous catalytic reaction of JP-10 was realized by Ni–B nanoparticle.
• This work offers a promising method for flight safeguard of hypersonic vehicle.

Ni–B nano-amorphous alloys have been successfully fabricated with an average diameter of 20 nm, where c-undecyl calix[4]resorcinarene was used as surfactant layers to counter attractive interparticle forces and prevent agglomeration. Resorcinarene-encapsulated Ni–B nanoparticles can be stably and highly dispersed in the JP-10 for its quasi-homogeneous catalytic cracking. Campared with thermal decomposition, catalytic reaction of JP-10 on Ni–B nanoparticles exhibits obvious enhancement in conversion, even about 20% higher in low temperature region. Nevertheless, catalyst has no significant effect on the selectivity of alkene. Liquid products distribution are consistent with the mechanism proposed by Olivier. The coke deposits were investigated by temperature-programmed oxidation (TPO) method. In the present work, the catalyst samples are characterized, respectively, by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV–vis spectroscopic measurements, Inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy (ICP), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX). The investigated results indicate that resorcinarene are well capped on the Ni–B nanoparticles.

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