Metal-organic frameworks induce hypergolic ignition of bulk metals

30 August 2021, Version 1
This content is a preprint and has not undergone peer review at the time of posting.

Abstract

We demonstrate the unprecedented ability to induce hypergolic behavior, i.e. rapid and spontaneous ignition upon contact with an oxidizer, in non-hypergolic metal fuels by blending them with hypergolic metal-organic frameworks (HMOFs). Using magnesium, aluminum or zinc metal as the fuel, we demonstrate materials with ignition delays (IDs) below 50 ms, and calculated specific impulse (Isp) in the 220-250 s range. These parameters are comparable to those of toxic and carcinogenic hydrazine-based hypergols conventionally used in aerospace technologies, suggesting a route to develop cleaner, safer propulsion systems.

Keywords

hypergolic
metal-organic frameworks
fuel
metal
ignition
propulsion
green chemistry

Supplementary materials

Title
Description
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Title
Metal-organic frameworks induce hypergolic ignition of bulk metals
Description
Details of experimental procedures and instrumental tech-niques, selected thermal analysis, surface area analysis, SEM, drop testing, PXRD analysis, XPS and calculated Isp data.
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