Andy Huynh

All Publications

• Tailoring the mechanical and combustion performance of B/HTPB composite solid fuel with covalent interfaces COMPOSITES SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Jiang, Y., Leem, J., Robinson, A. M., Wu, S., Huynh, A. H., Ka, D., Zhao, R., Xia, Y., Zheng, X. 2024; 245

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.compscitech.2023.110350

  View details for Web of Science ID 001126206100001

• Exfoliated Magnesium Diboride (MgB2) Nanosheets as Solid Fuels. Nano letters Jiang, Y., Ka, D., Huynh, A. H., Baek, J., Ning, R., Yu, S. J., Zheng, X. 2023

  Abstract

  Magnesium diboride (MgB2) has been explored as an alternative fuel to boron (B) due to its high energy density and the additive effect of magnesium (Mg) to promote B combustion. However, the primary oxidation of MgB2 does not occur unless it decomposes at a high temperature (830 °C), which makes ignition difficult and the reaction slow. Recently, two-dimensional (2D) exfoliated MgB2 nanosheets have attracted increasing attention due to their unique properties and potential applications in various fields. In this study, we investigate the potential of 2D exfoliated MgB2 nanosheets as solid fuels for overcoming the challenges of MgB2 combustion. We analyzed their oxidation behavior and energetic performance through material characterization and combustion tests under slow- and fast-heating conditions and compared their performance with those of bulk MgB2, B nanoparticles, and a B/Mg nanoparticle mixture. This study highlights the potential of MgB2 nanosheets as promising solid fuels with superior energetic properties.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c01910

  View details for PubMedID 37656036

• Perfluoroalkyl-Functionalized Graphene Oxide as a Multifunctional Additive for Promoting the Energetic Performance of Aluminum. ACS nano Jiang, Y., Wang, H., Baek, J., Ka, D., Huynh, A. H., Wang, Y., Zachariah, M. R., Zheng, X. 2022

  Abstract

  Aluminum (Al) is a widely used metal fuel for energetic applications ranging from space propulsion and exploration, and materials processing, to power generation for nano- and microdevices due to its high energy density and earth abundance. Recently, the ignition and combustion performance of Al particles were found to be improved by graphene-based additives, such as graphene oxide (GO) and graphene fluoride (GF), as their reactions provide heat to accelerate Al oxidation, gas to reduce particle agglomeration, and fluorine-containing species to remove Al2O3. However, GF is not only expensive but also hydrophobic with poor mixing compatibility with Al particles. Herein, we report a multifunctional graphene-based additive for Al combustion, i.e., perfluoroalkyl-functionalized graphene oxide (CFGO), which integrates the benefits of GO and GF in one material. We compared the effects of CFGO to GO and GF on the ignition and combustion properties of nAl particles using thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, temperature-jump ignition), Xe flash ignition, and constant-volume combustion test. These experiments confirm that CFGO generates fluorine-containing species, heat, and gases, which collectively lower the ignition threshold, augment the energy release rate, and reduce the combustion product agglomeration of nanosized Al particles, outperforming both GO and GF as additives. This work shows the great potential of using multifunctionalized graphene as an integrated additive for enhancing the ignition and combustion of metals.

  View details for DOI 10.1021/acsnano.2c05271

  View details for PubMedID 36099637