High‐Energy Al/CuO Nanocomposites Obtained by DNA‐Directed Assembly

Abstract

Over the next few years, it is expected that new, energetic, multifunctional materials will be engineered. There is a need for new methods to assemble such materials from manufactured nanopowders. In this article, we demonstrate a DNA-directed assembly procedure to produce highly energetic nanocomposites by assembling Al and CuO nanoparticles into micrometersized particles of an Al/CuO nanocomposite, which has exquisite energetic performance in comparison with its physically mixed Al/CuO counterparts. Using 80 nm Al nanoparticles, the heat of reaction and the onset temperature are 1.8 kJ g −1 and 410 °C, respectively. This experimental achievement relies on the development of simple and reliable protocols to disperse and sort metallic and metal oxide nanopowders in aqueous solution and the establishment of specific DNA surface-modification processes for Al and CuO nanoparticles. Overall, our work, which shows that DNA can be used as a structural material to assemble Al/Al, CuO/CuO and Al/CuO composite materials, opens a route for molecular engineering of the material on the nanoscale.

Assembly and reactive properties of Al/CuO based nanothermite microparticles

“…In our previous study, we also found a significant increase in reactivity when oppositely charged fuel and oxidizer nanoparticles were assembled [25]. More recently, Rossi et al demonstrated a DNA-directed assembly procedure to produce highly energetic nanocomposites by assembling Al and CuO nanoparticles into microparticles [32]. All these studies show the same general result, that intimate interfacial contact results in high reactivity.…”

Nanoenergetics as pressure generator for nontoxic impact primers: Comparison of Al/Bi2O3, Al/CuO, Al/MoO3 nanothermites and Al/PTFE

“…Nanothermites also open the perspective to fabricate smaller weapon systems or higher lethality weapon. Moreover, compared to conventional explosives, one asset of nanoenergetic materials is the possible adjustment of the energy density, power release and pressure generation by a suitable choice of fuels, oxidizers, material geometries and reactant compaction [3,[14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22]. Until recently, very few reports have considered the dynamic pressures developed by the gas expansion during nanothermites reactions [11,[23][24][25].…”

Large‐Scale Synthesis of a Porous Co3O4 Nanostructure and Its Application in Metastable Intermolecular Composites

“…MICs are preparedb ym ixing nanoparticleso fm etallic oxides (MoO 3 ,C uO, Fe 2 O 3 ,a nd Bi 2 O 3 )w ith aluminum [1][2][3][4].S everal methods have been employed to realizeM ICs, including physical mixing, sol-gel,s putteringo fm ultilayer foils, aero-gel, molecular self-assembly [5][6][7][8][9].W hile each method has its merits,s everal disadvantages have also been obtained. Thus, developing novel, facile, and scalable methods to synthesize MICs with homogeneityi sa ni mportant endeavor.…”