Facile preparation of rGO/MFe(2)O(4) (M = Cu, Co, Ni) nanohybrids and its catalytic performance during the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

Reduced graphene oxide/metal ferrite (rGO/MFe(2)O(4), M = Cu, Co, Ni) nanohybrids are successfully prepared through a simple, one-step hydrothermal method. The rGO/MFe(2)O(4) nanohybrids are characterized by XRD, TEM, FT-IR, XPS, Raman and BET surface area measurements. The rGO/MFe(2)O(4) nanohybrids demonstrate amazing catalytic activities on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP). DSC results indicate that rGO/MFe(2)O(4) nanohybrids (3 wt%), could decrease the decomposition temperature of pure AP from 424.7 °C to 329.1 °C, 338.3 °C, and 364.8 °C, respectively. This enhanced catalytic performance is mainly attributed to the synergistic effect of NPs and rGO. The activation energy (E(a)) of AP mixed with nanohybrids is investigated by two isoconversion methods, Flynne–Walle–Ozawa (FWO) and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose (KAS), on a conversion degree (α) range from 0.05 to 0.95. The values of E(a) calculated from the above two methods matched with each other. A strong dependence of E(a) on α is observed, indicating a complex decomposition process.