Copper chromite decorated on nitrogen-doped graphene aerogel as an efficient catalyst for thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate particles

In this study, CuCr₂O₄ spinel (CCO) nanoparticles decorated on three-dimensional graphene networks were synthesized using hydrothermal method followed by a calcination process. The as-prepared material was characterized by different analysis methods and used for catalytic thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate particles (AP). For this purpose, CuCr₂O₄@GA/AP composites were fabricated by solvent/non-solvent (composite processing) and simple mixing methods. The catalytic effect of the as-prepared composites was investigated by differential scanning calorimetric and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis techniques. Owing to the synergistic effect of the spinel-structured copper chromite nanoparticles, high surface area of graphene aerogel and composite processing of AP, the high-temperature decomposition of AP in the presence of 4 mass% CuCr₂O₄@GA nanocomposite prepared by solvent/non-solvent method was reduced from 432 to 323 °C and the heat released (∆H) from decomposition of AP was increased from 590 to 1760 J g⁻¹.