Abstract:

Many Energetic Ionic Liquids (EILs) were reported as promising hydrazine-replacement fuels for hypergolic rocket propulsion. However, many of these EILs were ignited by corrosive and hazardous concentrated fuming nitric acid. Significant efforts were recently made to utilize highly-concentrated H₂O₂ as a “green” alternative to fuming nitric acid and N₂O₄ oxidizers. Although “rocket grade” H₂O₂ is more challenging for use and less safe for storage than commercially-available H₂O₂ (70%), the latter was not considered as a viable oxidizer for hypergolic propulsion. In our work, we focused on the development of novel iodine-rich promoters, capable to initiate hypergolic ignition reactions between a typical EIL fuel – 3-ethyl-1-methyl-1H-imidazol-3-ium cyanotrihydroborate and H₂O₂. Among prepared and evaluated promoters, the top performing [FcCH₂NEtMe₂⁺]₂[B₁₂I₁₂^2–] showed short ignition delay times in the reaction of the tested EIL with H₂O₂. We also developed four novel iodocuprate-containing ionic liquids (CuILs), which exhibited the capability to efficiently promote hypergolic reactions between EIL fuels and highly-concentrated H₂O₂. The most promising promoter of CuIL type has high decomposition temperature, was found to be stable in a promoter-in-fuel formulation for weeks and showed very ignition delay times. We believe that our findings provide a platform for the development and utilization of H₂O₂ as potential “green” oxidizer for space propulsion.  

Biosketch:

Prof. Michael Gozin did his undergraduate studies in Chemistry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel) and his Master and Ph.D. degrees in Organometallic Chemistry (with Prof. David Milstein) at the Weizmann Institute of Science (Israel). He then moved to the US and had R&D position at the PeproTech (Princeton, NJ) and Principle Scientist position at the Clinical Microsensors Motorola (Pasadena, CA). After returning to Israel, Prof. Gozin worked at the Medica Venture Capital Fund and subsequently joined Faculty of the School of Chemistry of the Tel Aviv University. Prof. Gozin is working in the field of organic synthetic chemistry and the development (synthesis, characterization, and evaluation) of new Energetic Materials, Nanomaterials, and Biopolymers. Prof. Gozin main interests are in the development of novel fuels, oxidizers and combustion catalysts for space propulsion and highly thermostable energetic materials for deep well oil and gas excavation. Dr. Gozin published more than 80 papers and 18 patents, he is currently a Visiting Professor at the Department of Chemistry of the IIT Bombay and a former Head of the National Committee in Chemistry and Materials of the Israeli National Institute of Standards.