Abstract
The electrolytic ignition of an energetic ionic liquid (EIL) composed of a binary mixture of ammonium dinitramide (ADN) and hydroxylethylammonium nitrate (HEHN) was investigated. A voltage was applied to the ionic liquid (ADN/ HEHN) using six different cathode electrode materials (Mo, Fe, Pt, Ni, and Ta), and the time from voltage application to ignition and current immediately after voltage application was compared. The results demonstrated that the current measured immediately after voltage application and the reciprocal of the ignition delay time for each electrode material followed the order: Fe>Ni>Mo>Pt>Ta and Fe>Mo>Pt>Ni>Ta. The current exhibited a volcano-shaped trend with respect to the d-band center of the transition metal elements, reaching its maximum at a specific d-band center. The reciprocal of the ignition delay time presented a trend similar to that of the current, with the highest value observed for Fe and the lowest for Ta. However, a clear volcano-shaped trend was not observed, likely due to the influence of the pyrolysis reaction that proceeds simultaneously with the electrolysis reaction. This study demonstrates that electrode materials with an optimal d-band center can enhance the electrolytic response immediately after the application of voltage.
