Influence of Chirality on the Energy Release Behavior of a Molecular Ferroelectric Energetic Material

Author(s):

Jennifer L. Gottfried, Lauren B. Blaudeau, and Shenqiang Ren

Abstract:

The influence of chirality on the high-temperature chemistry and energy release behavior of the molecular ferroelectric salt imidazolium perchlorate (ImClO₄, or IM) with and without an external magnetic field was investigated. (R)-(+)-a-methylbenzylamine (R-MBA) and (S)-(-)-a-methylbenzylamine (S-MBA) chiral molecules were added to the IM to produce RIM and SIM, respectively. The addition of R-MBA and S-MBA decreased the total energy release from RIM and SIM compared to the neat IM but resulted in small differences in the chemistry and energy release behavior under the influence of the magnetic field.