Green synthesis of ZnCo2O4 nanoparticles by Aloe albiflora extract and its application as catalyst on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

ZnCo2O4 nanoparticles were prepared by green method using Aloe albiflora extract solution and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, and the result showed that the average particle size was <30 nm. The effect of the ZnCo2O4 nanoparticles on thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) was enhancing the evolved heat from 400 to 1505 J g−1 and a decrease of decomposition temperature from 420 to 310 °C. The kinetic parameters of thermal decomposition of both pure AP and catalyzed sample have been calculated by Kissinger method, and the results showed that the values of pre-exponential factor and activation energy of thermal decomposition of catalyzed sample increased with respect to that of pure AP. However, the calculated rate constant was higher in presence of ZnCo2O4 nanoparticles.