No CrossRef data available.
Article contents
Design of High-Energetic Materials at the Nanoscale
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
Abstract
The amount of energy storage and its release in controllable pathways are two of the fundamental requirements of a high-energy material. The novel chemistry brought about by large surface-to-volume ratio of nanomaterials provides an attractive way to design and synthesize materials that optimize these two requirements. First principles calculations based on density functional theory and generalized gradient approximation have been used to study the potential of AlxLiyOz and Al(MnO4)x clusters as candidates for high-energetic materials. The equilibrium geometries and total energies of these clusters and their fragments are obtained to study the energy stored in these clusters and its release along various pathways. Interesting results include the substantial increase in binding energy by either adding an Al to MnO4 or adding a MnO4 to Al(MnO4)x unit indicating that Al(MnO4)3 may be a potential candidate for energetic materials as well as super-oxidizers. Similar calculations also show that during the combustion of Al addition of small amounts of Li to Al nano-powder helps to reduce the amount of non-combustible Al.
- Type
- Research Article
- Information
- Copyright
- Copyright © Materials Research Society 2004