Laser-induced energetic material ignition with various fluorinated graphenes: Theoretical and experimental studies

Abstract Fluorinated graphene (FG) as energetic material has a wide range of application due to its unique light-to-heat conversion, thermal and oxidation properties. The structure of FG, especial the fluorinated degree of FG is a key parameter to achieve those applications. In this study, the effect of the fluorinated degree of FG on the laser ignition of a typical energetic material of 2,4,6,8,10,12-(hexanitrohexaaza) cyclododecane (CL-20) was studied by the density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experimental characterizations. The interaction mechanism between the FG and CL-20 was studied by the simulation through adsorption energy and the electron density difference variations. Simultaneously, graphene materials with different fluorinated degrees were prepared by the hydrothermal method experimentally, the photothermal conversion behavior and laser ignition characteristics of graphene with different degrees of fluoride were characterized. Simulation and experimental results show that CL-20 and graphene with a low degree of fluorination have stronger adsorption energy and lower laser induced ignition delay time than those of the other conditions. This research provides an atomic-scale explanation for the laser induced ignition mechanism of fluorinated graphene in energetic materials.