Ex situ synthesis of G/α-Fe2O3 nanocomposite and its catalytic effect on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles were prepared by a facile hydrothermal method using ferric chloride hexahydrate (FeCl3·6H2O) as a precursor. Graphene oxide (GO) was synthesized using a modified Hummers method and graphene nanosheets (G) were successfully obtained by thermal reduction of GO. G/α-Fe2O3 nanocomposite was prepared using ex situ synthesis in the presence of α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles and GO solution. The characterization of the as-prepared materials was performed using X-ray diffraction analyses and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy; their morphology was investigated by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy; the specific surface area (SBET) was determined by nitrogen adsorption; their catalytic activity on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) was investigated by differential thermal analysis (DTA). The results of DTA indicated that the obtained nanomaterials contribute in ameliorating the thermal decomposition of AP; specifically, the high decomposition temperature of AP decreases from 432 to 380◦C. A significant decrease in the activation energy was also achieved in the presence of these nanomaterials, and the mixture of ammonium perchlorate with G/α-Fe2O3 showed the lowest value (from 129 to 80.33 kJ mol−1).