Improve the catalytic activity of α-Fe2O3 particles in decomposition of ammonium perchlorate by coating amorphous carbon on their surface

Sphere- and pod-like α-Fe2O3 particles have been selectively synthesized using NH3·H2O and NaOH solution to adjust the pH value of the designed synthetic system, respectively. The sphere-like α-Fe2O3 particles with diameter about 25 nm on average were encapsulated into carbon shells to fabricate a novel core–shell composite (α-Fe2O3@C) through the coating experiments. The catalytic performance of the products on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) was investigated by thermal gravimetric analyzer (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The thermal decomposition temperatures of AP in the presence of pod-like α-Fe2O3, sphere-like α-Fe2O3 and α-Fe2O3@C are reduced by 72, 81 and 109 °C, respectively, which show that α-Fe2O3@C core–shell composites have higher catalytic activity than that of α-Fe2O3.