Tuning the crystal morphology and cataly

The addition of graphene-based energetic catalysts to solid propellants may improve combustion efficiency while maintaining energy level and high thermal stability, essential for solid propellant applications. This study synthesized various new energetic coordination polymers (ECPs) using graphene oxide (GO) copper(II) complexes with ligands 5,5′-bis-tetrazole (H2BT) or 5,5-bis-tetrazole-1,1-dioldehydrate (DHBT) by hydrothermal and solvothermal methods. It was observed that the regulation of synthetic methods altered the crystal structures and morphologies, culminating in a series of graphene-based bis-tetrazole complexes from identical starting materials. The graphene-based azole-derived ECPs exhibited enhanced thermostability compared to the pristine metal complexes due to graphene's stabilizing effect, with morphological changes also contributing to variations in thermostability. The catalytic effects of these GO-based ECPs significantly increased the heat releases from ammonium perchlorate (AP) by three to four times, resulting in merged exothermic peaks at distinct temperatures for different complexes. Additionally, a shoulder peak appeared after the main exothermic peak of RDX, indicating the catalysts' influence on its condensed product reactions.