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This paper reports on the synthesis of CuO nanoparticles (NPs) by the leaves extract of Calotropis gigantea plant in aqueous medium through green synthesis and their characterizations in terms of morphology, structure, crystallinity and catalytic properties. The synthesized CuO NPs are crystalline in nature having the average sizes in range of 30–40 nm. Green synthesized CuO NPs are utilized as effective catalyst in the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) and combustion of composite solid propellants (CSPs) by measuring the thermo gravimetric analysis–differential scanning calorimetry (TGA–DSC), ignition delay and burning rate. High catalytic activity to AP decomposition and high burning rate for CSPs containing hydroxyl terminates polybutadiene (HTPB) as binder and AP as oxidizer have observed over the surface of green synthesized CuO NPs. Kinetics of thermal decomposition of AP with and without green synthesized CuO NPs was also studied by isoconversional method using isothermal TG data.

The synthesis of Cu nanoparticles by reducing CuSO 4 with hydrazine in ethylene glycol under microwave irradiation, has been described. These nanoparticles have been characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern and X-ray diffraction (XRD) which shows an average particle diameter of 20.3 nm. The catalytic activity, of Cu nanoparticles on thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP), composite solid propellants (CSPs) using thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) have been measured. Results indicate that nanoscale Cu particle lowers the energy of activation for thermal decomposition of AP and CSPs. Activation energy for ignition has also been found to be lowered in case of AP, CSPs, HMX and NTO. The burning rate of CSPs has been found to be enhanced. Isothermal TG data was used to evaluate kinetic parameters by model fitting as well as isoconversional methods and values of activation energy were found to be lowered with Cu nanoparticles.

CdFe2O4 and Cd nanocrystals were synthesized by wet chemical and hydrazine reduction methods, respectively. These nanocrystals were characterized by XRD and TEM. Their catalytic activity was investigated on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP), hydroxyl terminated polybutadiene (HTPB) and composite solid propellants (CSPs) using TG and TG-DSC. Burning rate of CSPs was considerably enhanced by these nanocrystals. Rapid thermolysis of the CSPs and AP has also been studied using ignition delay measurements.