Evaluation of the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate in the presence of ceria-based catalysts via isoconversional methods

The thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (NH4ClO4, AP), a key oxidizer in solid rocket propellants, was enhanced using ceria-based catalysts. CeO2 and 20 mol% Sm-doped CeO2 (SDC20, Sm0.2Ce0.8O1.9) catalysts were synthesized via the citrate-nitrate auto-combustion method and characterized by TG, XRD, and BET analyses. The thermal decomposition behavior of pure AP was first examined by TG/DTA; subsequently, 2 wt% of CeO2 and Sm-doped CeO2 was added to AP, and TG/DTA analyses were conducted at heating rates of 5, 10, 20, and 30 0C/min. The activation energy was determined using the Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS), Ozawa-Flynn-Wall (OFW), and Vyazovkin methods. Both catalysts significantly reduced the high and low temperature decomposition thresholds of AP and lowered the activation energy by approximately 17-48%, depending on the calculation method. Moreover, Sm doping further decreased the activation energy by enhancing the catalytic performance of CeO2.