In-situ synthesis of MXene/ZnCo2O4 nanocomposite with enhanced catalytic activity on thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

In the present work, MXene/ZnCo2O4 nanocomposites were prepared through an in-situ precipitation method. ZnCo2O4 nanorods were dispersed and stabilized on the surface and edge of MXene nanosheets, as characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS). In addition, the catalytic effect of MXene/ZnCo2O4 nanocomposites on thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) was evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The two exothermic peaks of AP during decomposition almost merged into one peak at 323.3 °C upon addition of 2 wt% MXene/50%ZnCo2O4 nanocomposites, and the decreased temperature of HTD (high-temperature decomposition) was higher than that upon treated with ZnCo2O4 and MXene alone. The results demonstrated that it might be an effective strategy to disperse ZnCo2O4 nanorods on MXene nanosheets for the enhancement of the catalytic activity of ZnCo2O4 on thermal decomposition of AP. MXene/ZnCo2O4 nanocomposites were prepared through an in-situ precipitation method. Differential scanning calorimetric analysis indicates the enhancement of the catalytic activity of ZnCo2O4 on thermal decomposition of AP after dispersing ZnCo2O4 nanorods on MXene nanosheets. [Display omitted] •MXene/ZnCo2O4 nanocomposites were prepared through an in-situ precipitation method.•ZnCo2O4 nanorods were deposited on the surface and edge of MXene.•MXene/ZnCo2O4 exhibited improved catalytic performance on AP decomposition.•The thermal decomposition mechanism of AP catalyzed by MXene/ZnCo2O4 was proposed.