Unprecedented energetic zwitterion integrating thermal stability, high energy density and low sensitivity: Overcoming performance trade-offs in conventional energetic materials

The simultaneous integration of high energy density, low sensitivity, and thermal stability in energetic materials has constituted a century-long scientific challenge. Herein, we address this through a dual-zwitterionic electronic delocalization strategy, yielding TYX-3, the first bis-inner salt triazolo-tetrazine framework combining these mutually exclusive properties. Uniform π-electron distribution and elevated bond dissociation energy confer exceptional thermal stability ( T d = 365 °C) with TATB-level insensitivity (impact sensitivity IS > 40 J, friction sensitivity FS > 360 N). Engineered π-stacked networks enable record density (1.99 g·cm −3 ) with detonation performance surpassing HMX benchmarks (detonation velocity 9315 m·s −1 , detonation pressure 36.6 GPa). Practical implementation in Poly (3-nitratomethyl-3-methyloxetane) (PNMMFO) solid propellants demonstrates 5.4-fold safety enhancement over conventional HMX-based formulations while maintaining equivalent specific impulse. This work establishes a new design paradigm for energetic materials, overcoming the historical trade-offs between molecular stability and energy output through rational zwitterionic engineering. This work demonstrates a bis-zwitterionic triazolo-tetrazine framework (TYX-3) achieving unprecedented energy-stability integration: record density (1.99 g·cm −3 ), HMX-level detonation velocity (9315 m·s −1 ), and TATB-like insensitivity (IS > 40 J, FS > 360 N) via synergistic π-delocalization and dual stabilization mechanisms, resolving the century-old energy-density-safety paradox in energetic materials.

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Publication Details

Journal
Defence Technology
Published
2025-05-31
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dt.2025.05.024
Citations
3
Primary Topic
Energetic Materials and Combustion
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
2.59

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article

Unprecedented energetic zwitterion integrating thermal stability, high energy density and low sensitivity: Overcoming performance trade-offs in conventional energetic materials

Bojun Tan, Shu Zeng, Jinkang Dou, Siwei Song et al.
3 citations
Defence Technology
Energetic Materials and Combustion
2.59
article

Unprecedented energetic zwitterion integrating thermal stability, high energy density and low sensitivity: Overcoming performance trade-offs in conventional energetic materials

Bojun Tan, Shu Zeng, Jinkang Dou, Siwei Song, Bozhou Wang, Jieyu Luan, Jing Zhang, Changwei Tang, Minghui Xu, Xiong Yang, Qinghua Zhang, Wenjie Li, Gen Zhang, Ning Liu, Xianming Lu, Jian Su
article en
3 citations

Abstract

The simultaneous integration of high energy density, low sensitivity, and thermal stability in energetic materials has constituted a century-long scientific challenge. Herein, we address this through a dual-zwitterionic electronic delocalization strategy, yielding TYX-3, the first bis-inner salt triazolo-tetrazine framework combining these mutually exclusive properties. Uniform π-electron distribution and elevated bond dissociation energy confer exceptional thermal stability ( T d = 365 °C) with TATB-level insensitivity (impact sensitivity IS > 40 J, friction sensitivity FS > 360 N). Engineered π-stacked networks enable record density (1.99 g·cm −3 ) with detonation performance surpassing HMX benchmarks (detonation velocity 9315 m·s −1 , detonation pressure 36.6 GPa). Practical implementation in Poly (3-nitratomethyl-3-methyloxetane) (PNMMFO) solid propellants demonstrates 5.4-fold safety enhancement over conventional HMX-based formulations while maintaining equivalent specific impulse. This work establishes a new design paradigm for energetic materials, overcoming the historical trade-offs between molecular stability and energy output through rational zwitterionic engineering. This work demonstrates a bis-zwitterionic triazolo-tetrazine framework (TYX-3) achieving unprecedented energy-stability integration: record density (1.99 g·cm −3 ), HMX-level detonation velocity (9315 m·s −1 ), and TATB-like insensitivity (IS > 40 J, FS > 360 N) via synergistic π-delocalization and dual stabilization mechanisms, resolving the century-old energy-density-safety paradox in energetic materials.

Defence TechnologyVol. 52
Northwestern Polytechnical University (CN), Nanjing University of Science and Technology (CN), Gansu Research Institute of Chemical Industry (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars
Affordable and clean energy
Openalex Percentile: Top 11%
Energetic Materials and Combustion
2.59
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