Nano- and micro-scale catalysis for advanced energetic material combustion

Optimizing combustion efficiency in propellants and explosives demands detailed understanding of catalytic mechanisms across multiple scales. Catalyzed Combustion of Energetic Materials, edited by a team of internationally recognized propulsion and materials researchers, covers fundamental principles and advanced applications of catalysis in energetic material combustion, from nano- and micro-scale catalyst preparation to performance evaluation in operational systems.

This edited volume addresses thermocatalytic reaction mechanisms, the role of modifier additives in combustion characteristics, and catalysts for hydrogen peroxide-based hybrid rockets and nitrocellulose-based energetic materials. Contributors examine ignition and combustion of hypergolic fuels, theoretical calculations applied to catalysis, and AI-based technologies for catalyst design. Each chapter connects preparation methods with practical performance data for propellant and explosive applications.

Readers will also find:

• Detailed coverage of nano- and micro-scale catalyst synthesis, characterization, and their effects on thermal decomposition and combustion efficiency
• Mechanistic studies of thermocatalytic reactions linking catalyst structure to propellant and explosive performance in real-world applications
• Analysis of modifier additives and their impact on combustion characteristics across different classes of energetic materials
• Coverage of catalysts for hydrogen peroxide-based hybrid rockets and nitrocellulose-based energetic formulations with performance data
• Contributions from researchers worldwide integrating theoretical calculations and AI-based approaches with experimental catalysis results

Catalyzed Combustion of Energetic Materials serves catalytic chemists, materials scientists, physical chemists, solid state chemists, and chemical engineers working in propellant and explosive development. Researchers and engineers in the aircraft and space industries will find directly applicable catalyst performance data and mechanistic insights for optimizing combustion systems.

Weiqiang Pang is the group leader of Design, Simulation and Application of Solid Propellant at Xi'an Modern Chemistry Research Institute in Xi'an, China. A former visiting scholar at Politecnico di Milano, he has authored over 100 scientific publications and holds 50 patents in energetic materials exploration and solid propellant combustion.

Alexander A. Gromov is a researcher at the Institute of Machine Elements, Design and Manufacturing, TU Mining Academy Freiberg, Germany. A recipient of the Russian Academy of Science Medal and the Humboldt Grant for Experienced Researchers, he has authored over 200 scientific publications and several books on energetic materials.

Luigi T. DeLuca, PhD, is a Visiting Professor at Nanjing University of Science and Technology, China, and formerly led the Space Propulsion Laboratory at Politecnico di Milano. He holds an Honorary Fellowship from the High Energy Materials Society of India and has authored over 300 scientific publications.