Synthesis, characterization and catalytic behavior of MFe₂O₄ (M = Ni, Zn and Co) nanoparticles on the thermal decomposition of TKX-50

Bimetallic iron oxides (NiFe₂O₄, ZnFe₂O₄ and CoFe₂O₄) were prepared via the facile solvothermal method and characterized using SEM, TEM, XRD, FTIR, XPS and BET instruments. The catalytic behavior of the bimetallic iron oxides on the thermal decomposition of 5, 5′-bistetrazole-1, 1′-diolate (TKX-50) was studied using DSC and TG-DTG methods. Besides, the corresponding kinetic parameters of TKX-50 thermal decomposition were calculated by multi-kinetics methods including traditional, iso-conversional and iteration methods. The thermal decomposition peak temperature (T_p) and the activation energy (E_a) reduced obviously after the addition of bimetallic iron oxides. Among different bimetallic iron oxides, the ZnFe₂O₄ has the best catalytic activity for TKX-50 thermal decomposition. The high thermal decomposition peak temperature (T_HDP) and average apparent activation energy (E_a) of TKX-50 were decreased by 47.0 °C and 34.34 kJ mol⁻¹ in the presence of ZnFe₂O₄ sample. The excellent catalytic activity of ZnFe₂O₄ for thermal decomposition of TKX-50 makes it a promising combustion catalyst of insensitive solid propellants containing TKX-50.