Trapping molecular hydrazine in a cocrystal via hydrogen bonding

Abstract

Hydrazine (N₂H₄) has played a pivotal role as a fuel in liquid rocket propellants for a long time, but its inherent volatility and toxicity present a challenge in meeting the criteria for green and high-performance propellants. In this study, we have successfully crafted a high-performance nitrogen-rich heterocyclic skeleton (1) tailored for trapping hydrazine within a cocrystal material (2) by employing a self-assembly approach driven by hydrogen bonding. Notably, the cocrystal (2) exhibits a significantly heightened evaporation temperature of 166 °C compared to hydrazine's 113.5 °C. In addition, it shows a remarkably high specific impulse (265.8 s) in ammonium perchlorate-based solid propellant formulations, positioning it as a potential burn rate modifier in the next generation of environmentally sustainable propellants.