Perforated Manganese(III) Oxide Microcubes for Enhancing Burn Rates of Ammonium Perchlorate–Based Composite Propellants

ABSTRACT Transition metal compounds are widely used in catalytic applications due to their ability to exhibit various oxidation states depending on the chemical environment. Their surface activity can be further tailored by controlling the morphology. In this study, single‐crystalline Mn 2 O 3 microcubes (MMCs) with Swiss cheese‐like morphology were evaluated as burn‐rate enhancers for ammonium perchlorate (AP)‐based composite solid propellants (CSPs). The kinetic parameters of the catalysed AP decomposition were analysed using both model‐free (isoconversional) and model‐fitting methods. The addition of 4% MMCs reduced the activation energy of the AP decomposition and altered the reaction pathway, transforming the two‐stage decomposition into a single‐stage process. The integration of crystalline MMCs into CSPs significantly enhanced the burn rate, demonstrating the potential of the developed material as an effective propellant ingredient. The high surface area and abundance of exposed metal cations in the perforated Mn 2 O 3 structure stabilized the AP decomposition products, accelerating the combustion reaction.