Design of energetic ionic Liquids

Jerry A. Boatz, Gregory A. Voth, Mark S. Gordon, Sharon Hammes-Schiffer

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

An essential need of the US Air Force is the discovery, development, and fielding of new, energetic materials for advanced chemical propulsion in space and missile applications. Some of the key factors driving the requirement for new chemical propellants include: (a) improved performance in terms of increased specific impulse and density, (b) reduced sensitivity to external stimuli such as impact, friction, shock, and electrostatic discharge, and (c) mitigation of environmental and toxicological hazards (and the resulting costs) associated with currently used propellants. A class of compounds which can potentially meet these requirements is known as ionic Liquids (ILs), which are chemical salts with unusually low melting points. The physical and chemical properties of ILs render them useful for many purposes, most notably as environmentally benign ("green") solvents/reaction media but also as catalysts, electrolytes, etc. From a Department of Defense (DoD) perspective, ILs are being explored as new propellants, explosives, and munitions. The Air Force, in particular, is interested in ILs as potential replacements for currently used monopropellants such as hydrazine-which is carcinogenic, highly toxic, and has relatively modest performance characteristics. In contrast, many ILs have superior densities and specific impulses as well as significantly reduced sensitivity and toxicity characteristics. Furthermore, their properties can be carefully tuned via the choice of the component ions. The overall objective of the Design of Energetic Ionic Liquids challenge project is to address several key technical issues and challenges associated with the characterization, design, and development of ILs as new monopropellants. Among these, for example, are a

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publication2008 Proceedings of the Department of Defense High Performance Computing Modernization Program
Subtitle of host publicationUsers Group Conference - Solving the Hard Problems
Pages196-200
Number of pages5
DOIs
StatePublished - 2008
Externally publishedYes
Event2008 Department of Defense High Performance Computing Modernization Program: Users Group Conference - Solving the Hard Problems - Seattle, WA, United States
Duration: Jul 14 2007Jul 17 2007

Publication series

Name2008 Proceedings of the Department of Defense High Performance Computing Modernization Program: Users Group Conference - Solving the Hard Problems

Conference

Conference2008 Department of Defense High Performance Computing Modernization Program: Users Group Conference - Solving the Hard Problems
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySeattle, WA
Period7/14/077/17/07

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Computational Theory and Mathematics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Theoretical Computer Science

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