Nanomaterials in Pyrotechnics

Pyrotechnics consist of metallic powders as fuels and different oxidisers which generally have particle size of > 5 μ. The use of nano materials is expected to increase intimate contact between fuel oxidiser, and therefore, development of nano pyrotechnics based on nano fuels oxidizers along with their synthetic routes is considered of great interest. In this review, methods for the preparation of powders of nanometals: aluminium (Al), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), titanium (Ti), iron (Fe), silver (Ag), and cobalt (Co) and; metallic oxides: molybdenum trioxide (MoO₃), tungsten trioxide (WO₃), iron (III) oxide (Fe₂O₃), copper (I) oxide (Cu₂O), antimony trioxide (_Sb2O₃), nickel oxide (NiO), manganese dioxide (MnO₂), and zirconium dioxide (ZrO₂) along with their characterisation are discussed. Some nano oxidisers such as PbCO₃, Mg(OH)₂, NH₄ClO₄, NH₄NO₃ have also been reported. Further, some nano pyrotechnic formulations Al-MO₃, Al-WO₃, Al-Fe₂O₃, Al-AP, Al-Bi₂O₃, Al-CaO based on nanofuels oxidisers have also been formulated.