Preparation of Chitosan-Lead Composite Carbon Aerogel and its Catalytic Thermal Decomposition Performance on Ammonium Perchlorate

Abstract

Chitosan–lead (CS–Pb) carbon aerogels were prepared by ionic cross-linking and high-temperature carbonization using chitosan (CS) as the carbon precursor. The obtained carbon aerogels were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The obtained aerogels have a 3D structure and a large surface area, which can effectively prevent the agglomeration phenomenon of metals. The catalytic performance of the carbon aerogel for ammonium perchlorate (AP) was investigated by differential thermal analysis. The results showed that the CS-Pb carbon aerogel reduced the peak temperature of AP pyrolysis from 430 °C to 354 °C and the activation energy from 215.9 kJ/mol to 157.9 kJ/mol. Therefore, this carbon aerogel may be a promising catalyst in the field of AP pyrolysis.

Keywords: chitosan, lead, carbon aerogel, ammonium perchlorate, Thermal decomposition