Reactive nanoenergetic graphene aerogel synthesized by one-step chemical reduction

Adoption of nanoenergetic materials into large-scale applications is hindered by problems associated with scalability, particle aggregation, stability, and electrostatic discharge (ESD) sensitivity. We report a macroscale energetic graphene aerogel that simultaneously overcomes each of these problems while increasing the energy production and flame speed with respect to neat nanothermite sample. The aerogel is comprised of reduced graphene oxide (RGO), aluminum (Al) nanoparticles, and bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) nanoparticles. Synthesis of the aerogel requires chemical reduction and gelling that preserves the reactivity of embedded fuel and oxide nanoparticles. A new gelation process is adopted in which ethylenediamine was added to a propylene carbonate dispersion to gel and reduce RGO while retaining material reactivity. The energetic aerogel enhances the heat of reaction to 967 J/g, which is 36% higher than that from loose Al/Bi2O3 powder. A combustion speed of 960 ± 190 m/s under open ambient is measured for RGO/Al/Bi2O3 gel, which is the highest value reported for an Al/Bi2O3 system. Further, the underlying reduced graphene oxide scaffold reduces ESD sensitivity of the aerogel by three orders of magnitude.