Controllable synthesis of NiCo2O4/Al core-shell nanowires thermite film with excellent heat release and short ignition time

NiCo 2 O 4 has been selected as an oxidizer to realize the nanothermite film for the first time in this study. The NiCo 2 O 4 /Al core-shell nanowires (NWs) thermite film has been fabricated using a facile hydrothermal-annealing synthesis method and a controllable magnetron sputtering process. The as-obtained NiCo 2 O 4 /Al NWs thermite film shows a uniform structure and distribution on the substrate, with a favorable interfacial contact between the bimetallic oxide and the fuel at the nanoscale . It is found that the quantity of Al plays a key role in the total heat release magnitude. The maximal heat release of the NiCo 2 O 4 /Al nanothermite film has reached 2076.0 J/g at the optimal Al deposited thickness of 450 nm with the obtained optimum Al/NiCo 2 O 4 molar ratio of 4.9. Moreover, this design strategy is highly compatible with microelectromechanical systems (MEMs) and it can be applied to realize other nanothermites composed by bimetallic oxide and fuel.