LiN5: A novel pentazolate salt with high nitrogen content

A high energy cyclo -pentazolate ( cyclo -N 5 − ) salt with 90.98 % nitrogen content, LiN 5 , was synthesized by a simple metathesis reaction of AgN 5 and LiCl in deionized water . It was characterized by 15 N nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared and Raman spectroscopy , elemental analysis, thermogravimetry-mass (TG-MS) spectrometry, and differential scanning calorimetry . Besides, its trihydrate (LiN 5 ·3H 2 O) and anhydrous zeolitic architecture (LPF, lithium-pentazolate framework) structures were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. LiN 5 achieved stability in air and under ambient conditions. It starts to decompose when heated to 133 °C (onset) under Ar 2 flow. Its relatively high density (1.75 g cm −3 ), impact and friction sensitivity (IS = 3 J; FS = 20 N), and calculated high heat of formation (3.44 kJ g −1 ), combined with its theorical superior detonation velocity and pressure ( D  = 11362 m s −1 , P  = 40.9 GPa), endow LiN 5 with potential as an environmentally primary explosive.