Carbon Chemistry and Formation of Hierarchical Nanocarbons under Extreme Conditions Produced by High Explosive Detonations

The study of solid carbon (nanocarbons) nucleation and growth from detonating HE is limited, given the difficulty in direct evaluation of chemical reactions behind the shock front. The lack of information on chemical reactions occurring behind the shock front restricts the controlled and reproducible synthesis of carbon materials via detonations. Beyond nanoscience, researchers in the shock physics community are also intrigued by carbon condensation and the reactions occurring behind the detonation front. Insights and ultimately mechanisms regarding the chemistry occurring post-detonation is needed for more accurate predication of HE performance, simulation refinement, and intent. In prior work the primary (carbon) nanoparticle morphology and hybridization states was obtained through multi-scale characterization on unpurified soot. Here, a facile, benign separation protocol is described. The fractionated soot is characterization by SAXS, WAXS, and TEM. This protocol is carried out on products recovered from a colliding wave TATB-based HE detonation. This work is a first step in developing a generally applicable isolation and purification protocol for the recovery of nanocarbons formed by detonations, allowing for verification of organic reactions occurring behind the shock front.