Synthesis and properties of 1-methylimidazole-nitrocyanamide energetic complex

Zhen Li Yang; Wu Quan Meng; Ye Zhong; Zhi Min Li; Jian Guo Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.inoche.2025.115601

Synthesis and properties of 1-methylimidazole-nitrocyanamide energetic complex

Zhen Li Yang^*, Wu Quan Meng, Ye Zhong, Zhi Min Li, Jian Guo Zhang

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

An energetic complex, [Cu(MIM)₄](NCA)₂ (NCA = nitrocyanamide anion, MIM = 1-methylimidazole), was synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, single-crystal diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetry. The DSC curve of [Cu(MIM)₄](NCA)₂ was recorded in the temperature range of 40–500 °C, featuring an endothermic melting peak at 93.5 °C and exothermic decomposition peak at 199.4 °C. This complex spontaneously ignited upon contact with white fumed nitric acid (ignition delay time = 16 ms), yet exhibited friction and impact sensitivities (240 N and > 40 J, respectively) sufficiently high for safe handling. [Cu(MIM)₄](NCA)₂ was a better catalyst for the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) than [Cu(MIM)₄](DCA)₂ (DCA = dicyanamide anion) and [Cu(MIM)₄](CBH)₂ (CBH = cyanoborohydride anion), featuring a lower peak temperature (285.6 °C) and activation energy of AP decomposition (81.5 kJ·mol⁻¹) while exhibiting a higher heat release (2458 J·g⁻¹). Thus, [Cu(MIM)₄](NCA)₂ was found to be a promising catalyst for composite propellant decomposition.

Original language	English
Article number	115601
Journal	Inorganic Chemistry Communications
Volume	182
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.inoche.2025.115601
Publication status	Published - Dec 2025
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

1-methylimidazole
Ammonium perchlorate
Combustion catalyst
Energetic complex
Nitrocyanamide
Solid propellant
Thermal decomposition

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10.1016/j.inoche.2025.115601

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title = "Synthesis and properties of 1-methylimidazole-nitrocyanamide energetic complex",

abstract = "An energetic complex, [Cu(MIM)4](NCA)2 (NCA = nitrocyanamide anion, MIM = 1-methylimidazole), was synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, single-crystal diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetry. The DSC curve of [Cu(MIM)4](NCA)2 was recorded in the temperature range of 40–500 °C, featuring an endothermic melting peak at 93.5 °C and exothermic decomposition peak at 199.4 °C. This complex spontaneously ignited upon contact with white fumed nitric acid (ignition delay time = 16 ms), yet exhibited friction and impact sensitivities (240 N and > 40 J, respectively) sufficiently high for safe handling. [Cu(MIM)4](NCA)2 was a better catalyst for the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) than [Cu(MIM)4](DCA)2 (DCA = dicyanamide anion) and [Cu(MIM)4](CBH)2 (CBH = cyanoborohydride anion), featuring a lower peak temperature (285.6 °C) and activation energy of AP decomposition (81.5 kJ·mol−1) while exhibiting a higher heat release (2458 J·g−1). Thus, [Cu(MIM)4](NCA)2 was found to be a promising catalyst for composite propellant decomposition.",

keywords = "1-methylimidazole, Ammonium perchlorate, Combustion catalyst, Energetic complex, Nitrocyanamide, Solid propellant, Thermal decomposition",

author = "Yang, \{Zhen Li\} and Meng, \{Wu Quan\} and Ye Zhong and Li, \{Zhi Min\} and Zhang, \{Jian Guo\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2025",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1016/j.inoche.2025.115601",

language = "English",

volume = "182",

journal = "Inorganic Chemistry Communications",

issn = "1387-7003",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Synthesis and properties of 1-methylimidazole-nitrocyanamide energetic complex

AU - Yang, Zhen Li

AU - Meng, Wu Quan

AU - Zhong, Ye

AU - Li, Zhi Min

AU - Zhang, Jian Guo

PY - 2025/12

Y1 - 2025/12

N2 - An energetic complex, [Cu(MIM)4](NCA)2 (NCA = nitrocyanamide anion, MIM = 1-methylimidazole), was synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, single-crystal diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetry. The DSC curve of [Cu(MIM)4](NCA)2 was recorded in the temperature range of 40–500 °C, featuring an endothermic melting peak at 93.5 °C and exothermic decomposition peak at 199.4 °C. This complex spontaneously ignited upon contact with white fumed nitric acid (ignition delay time = 16 ms), yet exhibited friction and impact sensitivities (240 N and > 40 J, respectively) sufficiently high for safe handling. [Cu(MIM)4](NCA)2 was a better catalyst for the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) than [Cu(MIM)4](DCA)2 (DCA = dicyanamide anion) and [Cu(MIM)4](CBH)2 (CBH = cyanoborohydride anion), featuring a lower peak temperature (285.6 °C) and activation energy of AP decomposition (81.5 kJ·mol−1) while exhibiting a higher heat release (2458 J·g−1). Thus, [Cu(MIM)4](NCA)2 was found to be a promising catalyst for composite propellant decomposition.

AB - An energetic complex, [Cu(MIM)4](NCA)2 (NCA = nitrocyanamide anion, MIM = 1-methylimidazole), was synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, single-crystal diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermogravimetry. The DSC curve of [Cu(MIM)4](NCA)2 was recorded in the temperature range of 40–500 °C, featuring an endothermic melting peak at 93.5 °C and exothermic decomposition peak at 199.4 °C. This complex spontaneously ignited upon contact with white fumed nitric acid (ignition delay time = 16 ms), yet exhibited friction and impact sensitivities (240 N and > 40 J, respectively) sufficiently high for safe handling. [Cu(MIM)4](NCA)2 was a better catalyst for the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) than [Cu(MIM)4](DCA)2 (DCA = dicyanamide anion) and [Cu(MIM)4](CBH)2 (CBH = cyanoborohydride anion), featuring a lower peak temperature (285.6 °C) and activation energy of AP decomposition (81.5 kJ·mol−1) while exhibiting a higher heat release (2458 J·g−1). Thus, [Cu(MIM)4](NCA)2 was found to be a promising catalyst for composite propellant decomposition.

KW - 1-methylimidazole

KW - Ammonium perchlorate

KW - Combustion catalyst

KW - Energetic complex

KW - Nitrocyanamide

KW - Solid propellant

KW - Thermal decomposition

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105018067093

U2 - 10.1016/j.inoche.2025.115601

DO - 10.1016/j.inoche.2025.115601

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:105018067093

SN - 1387-7003

VL - 182

JO - Inorganic Chemistry Communications

JF - Inorganic Chemistry Communications

M1 - 115601

ER -

Synthesis and properties of 1-methylimidazole-nitrocyanamide energetic complex

Abstract

Keywords

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