Synthesis of AgN 5 and its extended 3D energetic framework

The pentazolate anion, as a polynitrogen species, holds great promise as a high-energy density material for explosive or propulsion applications. Designing pentazole complexes that contain minimal non-energetic components is desirable in order to increase the material's energy density. Here, we report a solvent-free pentazolate complex, AgN , and a 3D energetic-framework, [Ag(NH ) ] [Ag (N ) ]-, constructed from silver and cyclo-N -. The complexes are stable up to 90 °C and only Ag and N are observed as the final decomposition products. Efforts to isolate pure AgN were unsuccessful due to partial photolytical and/or thermal-decomposition to AgN . Convincing evidence for the formation of AgN as the original reaction product is presented. The isolation of a cyclo-N - complex, devoid of stabilizing molecules and ions, such as H O, H O , and NH , constitutes a major advance in pentazole chemistry.