Novel spherical simonkolleite nanoparticles and their promotional effect on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

Here, spherical nanometer simonkolleite particles (n-SK) with an average diameter of 189 nm have been successfully obtained via a new precipitation method utilizing sodium rhodizonate as precipitator. The as-synthesized n-SK was analyzed by XRD, FTIR and SEM, and its catalytic activity toward the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) was investigated with DSC. Upon grafting onto the AP surface through ultrasonic-assisted grinding technique, n-SK significantly reduces the high decomposition temperature of AP from 451.7 °C to 306.5 °C with an increase of the total heat release to 1493 J g−1. Besides, the possible catalytic mechanism of AP decomposition in the presence of n-SK has been discussed. •Spherical simonkolleite nanoparticles were synthesized using sodium rhodizonate.•The nanoparticles significantly improve the thermal decomposition performance of AP.•The possible catalytic mechanism is discussed.