Morphology-dependent catalytic activity of Fe2O3 and its graphene-based nanocomposites on the thermal decomposition of AP

Abstract The spherical, hollow and tubular Fe2O3 (s, h and t) and their graphene-based nanocomposites rGO-Fe2O3 (s, h and t) were fabricated using the facile solvothermal methods. The morphologies and compositions of the as-synthesized Fe2O3 (s, h and t) and rGO-Fe2O3 (s, h and t) nanocomposites were systematically characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, FTIR and XPS methods. Then, the effect of the catalytic performance of Fe2O3 (s, h and t) and rGO-Fe2O3 (s, h and t) nanocomposites on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) were studied by DSC method. The DSC results showed that all of the Fe2O3 (s, h and t) and rGO-Fe2O3 (s, h and t) nanocomposites can effectively promote the thermal decomposition of AP. Besides, rGO-Fe2O3(s) nanocomposite has the best catalytic performance, and the high-temperature decomposition exothermic peak of AP was significantly reduced after its mixing with rGO-Fe2O3 (s) nanocomposite. It can be seen that the effects of Fe2O3 on AP decomposition is mainly reflected in the high temperature process, while the effects of rGO-Fe2O3 (s) on AP decomposition is reflected in both high and low temperature stages, and the effect on the high temperature stage is more significant. The excellent catalytic performance of rGO-Fe2O3 (s) nanocomposite can be attributed to the in-situ growth of Fe2O3 on the surface of rGO, which contributes to the low temperature decomposition process of AP.