Al/CuO composite coatings with nanorods structure assembled by electrophoretic deposition for enhancing energy released

This study focus on the combustion performance and energy released of self-propagating Al/CuO nanothermite with nanorod structure comprehensively. CuO nanorods with lengths of 50 nm–100 nm were synthesized in large scale by template-free hydrothermal method . Al/CuO nanothermite coatings were further built successfully by co-deposition of the as-prepared CuO nanorods and nano-Al via electrophoretic deposition (EPD). Additionally, the EPD kinetic behavior of CuO nanorods and Al/CuO composites is investigated comprehensively. The optimum deposition time is 15 min and the composites is much homogenous when equivalence ratio (Ф) of Al and CuO is 0.75. Furthermore, the onset temperature is down to 315 °C and the energy release is approximately 3043 J/g along with rapid and violent combustion performance in the thermite reaction of Al/CuO nanorods. It is speculated that the excellent properties of the Al/CuO nanothermite could be ascribed to the uniform distributing and intimate interfacial contact between nano-Al and CuO nanorods.