Synthesis, characterization of Co–Ni–Cu trimetallic alloy nanocrystals and their catalytic properties, Part – 91

Present approach should find a potential application in preparing ternary alloy nanoparticles as a catalyst. Ternary Co–Ni–Cu nanocrystals (TMNs) have been successfully synthesized via hydrazine reduction procession. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectra (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) were employed to study the structural features of the nanomaterials. The resulting material showed a homogeneous alloy structure with an average diameter of 16.4 nm. Good composition control and size distribution of Co–Ni–Cu nanocrystals are achieved. It’s catalytic activity was investigated on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) and composite solid propellants (CSPs) using thermogravimetry (TG), TG coupled with differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) and ignition delay measurements. Kinetics of thermal decomposition of AP + (Co–Ni–Cu) has also been investigated using isoconversional and model-fitting approaches which have been applied to data for isothermal TG decomposition. TMNs can enhance catalytic activity towards thermal decomposition of AP as compared to Co–Ni and Ni–Cu bimetallic nanoparticles. The ignition delays and activation energies are found to decrease when TMNs were incorporated in the system. The burning rate of CSPs was considerably enhanced by these nanocrystals.

Graphical abstractPrepared Co–Ni–Cu ternary nanocrystals were characterized by XRD, EDS, FE-SEM, TEM, HR-TEM and SAED micrographs. The catalytic effect of these nanocrystals was evaluated on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate using TG and TG-DSC techniques. The kinetics of thermal decomposition of AP was evaluated using isothermal TG data by model fitting as well as isoconversional method.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Synthesis of Co–Ni–Cu ternary alloy nanocrystals (∼6.0 nm) by hydrazine reduction procession. ► Characterization using XRD, FE-SEM, EDS, TEM, HRTEM and SAED patterns. ► Catalytic activity of Co–Ni–Cu nanocrystals on AP thermal decomposition by thermal techniques. ► Burning rate measurements of CSPs with Co–Ni–Cu ternary alloy nanocrystals. ► Kinetics of thermal decomposition of AP + Co–Ni–Cu ternary alloy nanocrystals.