Nano or micro? A mechanism on thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate catalyzed by cobalt oxalate

► Easy-prepared micro-scale CoC2O4·2H2O in different morphologies as catalysts. ► Catalysts for thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate. ► No direct relationship between the catalysts morphologies and their activities. ► Structural and morphological variation of the catalysts digs out catalytic mechanism. ► This catalytic process is “self-crushing, self-dispersing” one.