Faster and Stronger Combustion in KClO ₄ /C ₁₂ H ₂₂ O ₁₁ System Enabled by Lanthanum Perovskite Catalysts

Optimization of the combustion performance of perchlorate-based energetic materials represents a critical challenge in the field of solid propellants. This study systematically investigated the catalytic regulation of combustion behavior in the potassium perchlorate/lactose (KClO4/C12H22O11) energetic system using lanthanide perovskite oxides (LaFeO3, LaCoO3, LaNiO3) as catalysts. The perovskite catalysts were synthesized via a co-precipitation-calcination method and characterized using SEM, XRD, and XPS to assess their morphology, crystal structure, and surface chemical states. Results demonstrate that LaCoO3, owing to its rhombohedral structure, abundant surface-adsorbed oxygen species, and optimal oxygen vacancy concentration, exhibits the highest catalytic activity. Thermal analysis confirmed that LaCoO3 significantly reduces the decomposition peak temperature of KClO4 by 81.7°C and decreases the apparent activation energy by 46.6%. Kinetic analysis revealed that the catalyst, through its oxygen vacancies and the reversible Co3+/Co2+ redox couple, reconstructs the decomposition pathway, shifting the reaction mechanism from nucleation control (Avrami-Erofeev model) to a rapid diffusion process spearheaded by surface oxygen. High-speed photography observations showed that the energetic system doped with LaCoO3 displays the fastest ignition speed, highest flame intensity, and a combustion duration shortened by 47%.