Fullerene Nitrogen: Future Rocket Fuel?
sanman
] [ Text ]
The stable existence of N60 was confirmed jointly by the National
Institute of health care materials) and Chemical Research ( NIMCR ) ,
(russian news agency) of Industrial Science and technology, and Nissan
Motor Co., ltd. Nissan Motor.
Increasingly promising lately is the potential for N60 , the molecule
consisting of 60 nitrogen atoms bonded in a soccer-ball shape , to be
used as rocket fuel capable of generating the world ''s highest thrust
Supercomputer simulation confirmed the existence of N60 as the
``nitrogen version '' '' of the newly emerging promising material ,
C60 , made of 60 carbon atoms .
Although a ``considerable amount of time is required for synthesizing
N60 , '' '' its development has already begun .
Russell Wallace
>The stable existence of N60 was confirmed jointly by the National
>Institute of health care materials) and Chemical Research ( NIMCR ) ,
>(russian news agency) of Industrial Science and technology, and Nissan
>Motor Co., ltd. Nissan Motor.
*blink blink*
The classic novel "Spacehounds of IPC" by E.E. Smith has N26 used as
an explosive. (Albeit stable only at cryogenic temperatures.)
When I read it as a child I remember thinking "nice idea, but not a
chance, no matter how cold it was, that stuff would go poof
straightaway".
On nostalgic grounds alone, I hope this idea works out :)
--
"Mercy to the guilty is treachery to the innocent."
http://www.esatclear.ie/~rwallace
mail:rw(at)eircom(dot)net
sanman
------------
Language : Japanese Article Type : CSO [ Article by Atsunobu Takeshita
] [ Text ]
The stable existence of N60 was confirmed jointly by the National
Institute of health care materials) and Chemical Research ( NIMCR ),
(russian news agency) of Industrial Science and technology, and Nissan
Motor Co., ltd.
Increasingly promising lately is the potential for N60, the molecule
consisting of 60 nitrogen atoms bonded in a soccer-ball shape, to be
used as rocket fuel capable of generating the world's highest thrust.
Supercomputer simulation confirmed the existence of N60 as the
``nitrogen version'' of the newly emerging promising material,
C60, made of 60 carbon atoms.
Although a ``considerable amount of time is required for synthesizing
N60,'' its development has already begun.
NIMCR's Chief Researcher Takehiro Matsunaga, who proposed the N60
concept, says this: ``When I saw the crystalline structure of C60,
I immediately sensed that the world ''s most powerful explosive could
be made if the same structure could be applied to nitrogen atoms.''
NIMCR and Nissan Motor are jointly developing the next-generation
rocket fuel.
The joint team has been in search of a compound capable of generating
a sufficiently powerful thrust to propel heavy rockets faster and
farther.
Although nitrogen exists as a stable gas, its compounds can become
powerful explosives.
TNT, today's most widely used explosive, is also a
nitrogen-containing compound.
Compared with oxygen and hydrogen, the atomic bonding force in
nitrogen is greater, and therefore, when the bond is destroyed,
larger energy is released.
In other words, if a compound can be synthesized from nitrogen atoms
only, the compound can be a powerful explosive.
>From that standpoint, the crystalline structure of the
soccer-ball-like C60 was the ideal shape for explosive researchers.
The joint group of NIMCR and Nissan Motor computed the atomic radius
and the molecular bonding energy and confirmed the existence of N60,
consisting of 60 nitrogen atoms, and N70, consisting of 70 nitrogen
atoms.
Furthermore, the group computed the magnitude of thrust when these
molecules are used as rocket fuel.
The currently most advanced propulsion technology involving the
reaction between liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen is to be used for
space shuttles and the next Japanese-made large rocket H2, which is
scheduled to be launched in february 1994 by the National Space
Development Agency.
The technology makes use of the heat that is released when oxygen and
hydrogen react.
Specific impulse, an index of a rocket ''s efficiency, for H2 is
approximately 445 seconds.
By computation, the group obtained a specific impulse of
approximately 550 seconds, approximately 20 percent better than the
above value, for the predicted N60, despite the common knowledge
that it is almost impossible to improve specific impulse by even one
second with today ''s fuel technology.
Another advantage of N60 as rocket fuel is that it is a solid.
By applying high heat or impact, the energy accumulated in the
material is released instantaneously.
The liquid fuel to be used for H2 is difficult to handle and has a
potential for leaking.
It has been reported that the U.S. National Aerospace Agency has
experienced more than 5000 accidents in the area of engine
development.
NIMCR's Chief Researcher Takehiro Matsunaga) says, ``there is no
doubt in my mind that the new nitrogen compound, if synthesized,
will be the new rocket fuel.''
There seems to be no clue to the synthesis method for the compound.
It took five years for the synthesis method for C60 to be found after
the computer prediction had been made for the existence of the
molecule.
Actually, the carbon molecule was isolated from soot produced by the
electric discharge between carbon electrodes.
In contrast with the C60 molecule, which is in the shape of a nearly
perfect soccer ball, the N60 molecule predicted by the joint group
has an indentation involving more than 10 nitrogen atoms.
Because of this distorted shape, N60 molecule is said to be easily
destroyed and difficult to synthesize.
C60 molecule was synthesized with a systematic approach by gradually
increasing the number of carbon atoms on a molecule consisting of 12
carbon atoms that was already in existence.
On the other hand, nitrogen molecules containing four, six and 20
atoms showed excessive strain in simulation tests, and their stable
existence was negated.
ection Chief Katsumi Tanigaki of the Exploratory Research Department,
NEC Basic Research Institute, points out that ``unless an
epoch-making synthetic method is found, it will be a long road before
we see the actual N60 molecule.''
He suggests that the group should ``first scheck the possibility of
synthesizing a molecule consisting of carbon and nitrogen. ''
According to the super-computer simulation, N60 molecule is supposed
to generate the world 's greatest explosive force.
Although a long road of synthesis is ahead, we must hope for the best
for future research.
As Section Chief Katsumi Tanigaki says, we must ``go for it, as long
as its existence has been predicted.''
Synthesized C60 and Predicted N60
sanman
to say -- what changes could be expected in spacecraft, particularly
launch vehicles, that only need a few cubic meters of storage space
for fuel? Presumably, oxidizer would still take up a lot of space.
Apparently, there is a search on for fullerene boron. Perhaps there
might be some catalytic way to break N60 into N2, without combustion.
C60 carbon buckyballs have a density of 1690 kg/m^3, so multiplying
that by 7/6 would roughly give a density of under 2000kg/m^3 for N60
nitrogen buckyballs. Compare that to liquid hydrogen's low density,
which is about 0.7 kg/m^3. Also consider the problems of dealing with
liquid hydrogen compared to the fine solid powder that N60 would
likely be.
While hydrogen boasts an Isp of 450 secs, the N60 would actually
surpass that by 20% with an Isp of 550 secs. Hey, if your fuel load is
lighter, why not go for that? Lighter fuel load in a more compact
space could make SSTO more attractive. Although if the bulk of the
weight and volume is then taken up by LOX, then perhaps a combined
cycle engine would be particularly attractive.
C60 molecules are said to flow well enough to be a lubricant.
Likewise, perhaps the N60 could be expected to flow nicely as well.
Perhaps this would work well for a Pulse Detonation Engine fed by
micro-injection, or else it could be a pelletized feed.
Alex Terrell
it something like N60 + 60 O2 -> 60 NO2?
Either would clearly release a lot of energy. If the former, how would
it be controlled? A Solid rocket booster might work, or it might be a
huge unstable bomb. Hopefully it's more stable than monatomic
hydrogen.
>
> Compared with oxygen and hydrogen, the atomic bonding force in
> nitrogen is greater, and therefore, when the bond is destroyed,
> larger energy is released.
>
I think they've got this the wrong way round here!
sanman
> *blink blink*
>
> The classic novel "Spacehounds of IPC" by E.E. Smith has N26 used as
> an explosive. (Albeit stable only at cryogenic temperatures.)
>
> When I read it as a child I remember thinking "nice idea, but not a
> chance, no matter how cold it was, that stuff would go poof
> straightaway".
>
> On nostalgic grounds alone, I hope this idea works out :)
Well, just look at how stable C60 buckyballs are. That particular
geometry seems to be stable, particularly as a closed surface. So if
N60 could be formed, it should be meta-stable, which isn't bad for an
explosive.
With a higher Isp than hydrogen, it would save you on mass, and with
its much higher density, it would save you on space. If there's some
catalytic way to break it down directly into N2, then you'd have zero
pollution, and no need for LOX either.
sanman
fabled N60 fullerene? Please check out the article in Physics Review
Letters:
http://focus.aps.org/v8/st27.html
As you can see, if you bombard the C60 buckyballs with nitrogen atoms,
using a low-cost technique called magnetron sputtering, then you can
replace carbons with nitrogens.
Well, what happens if you keep doing this with enough intensity and
duration? Might you not end up knocking off all the carbon atoms and
replacing them all with the nitrogen atoms? Wouldn't that give you the
N60?
Just use high pressure and temperatures between the heat of formation
of C60 and the predicted heat of formation for N60, for best results.
This magnetron sputtering stuff is supposed to be a low-cost technique
which can even be scaled up for bulk production. You could have some
thin flow of the C60 being subjected to the nitrogen plasma stream,
and then a recycle stream to send the incomplete aza-fullerenes back
thru the process again.
In a sense, you'd be using the C60 buckyballs as a template to graft
on the nitrogens.
Why wouldn't this work?
sanman
> It's not clear what the reaction is precisely. Is it N60 -> 30N2 or is
> it something like N60 + 60 O2 -> 60 NO2?
>
As I've been corrected to understand, it is a monopropellant, meaning
that it needs no oxidizer to react with. Provide the ignition via
spark, heat, or mechanical striking, and it will chain react. It will
therefore work in space or underwater, without the presence of oxygen.
> Either would clearly release a lot of energy. If the former, how would
> it be controlled? A Solid rocket booster might work, or it might be a
> huge unstable bomb. Hopefully it's more stable than monatomic
> hydrogen.
Well, considering that it has energy per unit volume that is 3500
times greater than liquid hydrogen, I'd say that your bomb wouldn't be
huge, it would be small and compact. But the explosion would be huge.
Any chemical fuel can also be used as a bomb. But looking at the
positive side, it could be an incredibly compact form of energy. You
could use a smaller volume of it to power an aircraft or rocket. Or
even one of those futuristic power-armor exo-skeletons that DARPA is
working on.
Henry Spencer
Alex Terrell <alext...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>It's not clear what the reaction is precisely. Is it N60 -> 30N2 or is
>it something like N60 + 60 O2 -> 60 NO2?
The latter would release *less* energy. NO2 has a positive heat of
formation; you have to put energy *in* to form it. (The same is true
of all the nitrogen oxides.) There's just no reason to get oxygen
involved at all.
>If the former, how would it be controlled?
Well, that's an interesting question. One can hope that the stuff is
stable (like N2O or hydrazine) until it gets hot or hits the right
catalyst, and hence can just be fed into the chamber carefully.
--
In order to improve computer security, | Henry Spencer
the CEO must care. --Bruce Schneier | he...@spsystems.net
The Enlightenment
The Density of a stoichimetric mixture of LOX O2 and LOH H2 is
0.29KG/L and Isp of 450 if N60 has a density of 1.6KG/L and isp of 550
it will most definetly enable Single Stage To Orbit. providing it
becomes a viable safe rocket fuel that is.
sanman
> In article <d81e59c9.02050...@posting.google.com>,
> Alex Terrell <alext...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >It's not clear what the reaction is precisely. Is it N60 -> 30N2 or is
> >it something like N60 + 60 O2 -> 60 NO2?
> >Either would clearly release a lot of energy...
>
> The latter would release *less* energy. NO2 has a positive heat of
> formation; you have to put energy *in* to form it. (The same is true
> of all the nitrogen oxides.) There's just no reason to get oxygen
> involved at all.
>
> >If the former, how would it be controlled?
>
> Well, that's an interesting question. One can hope that the stuff is
> stable (like N2O or hydrazine) until it gets hot or hits the right
> catalyst, and hence can just be fed into the chamber carefully.
Check out the following link:
It's a Google-cached page from showing the more detailed calculations
and derivations of the N60's energy. Interesting stuff from LLNL.
Christopher
wrote:
>In article <d81e59c9.02050...@posting.google.com>,
>Alex Terrell <alext...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>It's not clear what the reaction is precisely. Is it N60 -> 30N2 or is
>>it something like N60 + 60 O2 -> 60 NO2?
>>Either would clearly release a lot of energy...
>
>The latter would release *less* energy. NO2 has a positive heat of
>formation; you have to put energy *in* to form it. (The same is true
>of all the nitrogen oxides.) There's just no reason to get oxygen
>involved at all.
>
>>If the former, how would it be controlled?
>
>Well, that's an interesting question. One can hope that the stuff is
>stable (like N2O or hydrazine) until it gets hot or hits the right
>catalyst, and hence can just be fed into the chamber carefully.
Could plain old Nitrogen be used in a VASIMR rocket instead of
hydrogen?
Christopher
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
"Who shall find a virtuous woman?
for her price is far above rubies"
Proverbs:31:10-12
Alex Terrell
, and hence can just be fed into the chamber carefully.
>
> Could plain old Nitrogen be used in a VASIMR rocket instead of
> hydrogen?
>
>
abundant in space. That would prove slightly trickier, but no reason
why it shouldn't work. With VASIMR, you don't have the same ionisation
energy problem as in an ion engine.
Robert Lynn
But considering the molar mass of nitrogen an Isp of 550s probably
implies a combustion temperature on the order of 10000K or higher, which
will be next to impossible to withstand in a combustion chamber and N60
will not make a good coolant. It will probably require mixing a bit of
LH2 into the mix just to reduce the temperature and provide cooling and
power for the turbopumps. At the very high temperatures implied there
will also be some problems with nitrogen dissociation robbing energy
from the rocket and I would guess that this will favour big engines with
very long nozzles.
Christopher
wrote:
Hmm, only one atomic weight diffference <I think> between oxygen and
nitrogen, and only -9 degrees c difference in liquid form. The only
problem I could foresee is liquid nitrogen is inert, where as liquid
oxygen would react will the material the engine is made from. Is
liquid nitrogen cheaper to buy in bulk then liquid oxygen?
Henry Spencer
Christopher <coro...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>Hmm, only one atomic weight diffference <I think> between oxygen and
Two (N is 14, O 16), four for the N2 and O2 molecules.
>Is liquid nitrogen cheaper to buy in bulk then liquid oxygen?
I haven't checked prices, but I would expect a slight cost difference
favoring nitrogen. (Most of the cost of either is the energy cost of
liquefying the stuff, but nitrogen's greater abundance probably gives it a
slight edge.)
Ian Woollard
> Alex Terrell <alext...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> >It's not clear what the reaction is precisely. Is it N60 -> 30N2 or is
> >it something like N60 + 60 O2 -> 60 NO2?
> >Either would clearly release a lot of energy...
>
> The latter would release *less* energy. NO2 has a positive heat of
> formation; you have to put energy *in* to form it. (The same is true
> of all the nitrogen oxides.) There's just no reason to get oxygen
> involved at all.
Yes, probably a bad idea. I do wonder what would happen
if you pour LH into the N60's combustion chamber. Would
the right amount of LH soak up some of the energy
of the reaction, cool it AND give better ISP than pure
N60? After all the molecular weight of H2 is so much
lower than N2; if N60 alone has such a high ISP, mixing
it with LH might be *really* spectacular!
(Then again pure hydrogen can achieve 900 seconds if
pumped with a laser from an external power source, and
it would be interesting to know what the density of the
N60 fuel turns out to be- that's about as important
as ISP.)
N60 might make for an interesting hybrid/solid though.
sanman
> Yes, probably a bad idea. I do wonder what would happen
> if you pour LH into the N60's combustion chamber. Would
> the right amount of LH soak up some of the energy
> of the reaction, cool it AND give better ISP than pure
> N60? After all the molecular weight of H2 is so much
> lower than N2; if N60 alone has such a high ISP, mixing
> it with LH might be *really* spectacular!
>
> (Then again pure hydrogen can achieve 900 seconds if
> pumped with a laser from an external power source, and
> it would be interesting to know what the density of the
> N60 fuel turns out to be- that's about as important
> as ISP.)
>
> N60 might make for an interesting hybrid/solid though.
Well, I'd read that fullerene carbon nanotubes and buckyballs are
attracting interest for their ability to adsorb significant quantities
of hydrogen onto their surface, due to their relatively large surface
areas. I'm wondering if a nitrogen buckyball couldn't do the same
thing. After all, nitrogen has more electron affinity than carbon
does, so why wouldn't it attract hydrogen more strongly? So you could
have these nitrogen buckyball each then covered with adsorbed
hydrogen.
Regarding the laser pumping, I would point out that buckyballs have
the highest surface area per unit volume, and the most uniform
cross-sectional area, to capture light for photochemical reaction. So
your nitrogen buckyball with its adsorbed hydrogen could then be able
to absorb laser energy much more effectively.
Any comments?
sanman
http://www.aip.org/enews/physnews/2002/split/590-3.html
-----------
Physics Review Update
Number 590 #3, May 21, 2002 by Phil Schewe, James Riordon, and Ben
Stein
Solid Nitrogen in Nanocages
Carbon nanotubes are quite popular now for their prospective
electrical,
thermal, and even selective-chemistry applications. Inject some
nitrogen
into the formation process and you get C-N tubes. Take the CN
nanotubes, mix
in boron-oxide vapor, N2 gas, and heat at 2000 K, and you get
something new
again: multilayered BN nanoparticles.
Scientists at the National Institute for Materials Science in Tsukuba
(Dmitri Golberg, 81-298-58-5655, golberg...@nims.go.jp) and the
University of Sussex suggest that their 30-100-nm-sized BN balls might
prove
to be more exciting than the carbon equivalent; the BN particles are
very
good insulators (when they contain iron, nickel, or cobalt blobs) and
like
carbon buckyballs are good lubricants, but are chemically much more
stable
at high temperatures than their C counterparts.
Furthermore, some of the inner nested BN shells can shrink, bringing
enormous pressures (several GPa) to bear. The result is a
transformation
from graphitelike into diamondlike BN. Amid this high-pressure
nanocell a
B-rich layer forms and the conversion of N2 into nanocrystals proceeds
in
the sealed inner void, all at room temperature. (Golberg et al.,
Journal of
Chemical Physics, 15 May 2002).
------------
Imagine solid nitrogen at room temp! Well, this isn't ordinarily
possible, but apparently by trapping the nitrogen inside of
buckyballs, the nitrogen can be kept under enough pressure to turn
them into nanocrystals.
Hey, could this be a novel way of storing nitrogen in compact form?
Could this type of material be used as a powerful explosive, or
powerful rocket fuel?
Again, regarding the laser-pumping, I'd point out that the high
cross-sectional area of buckyballs would allow them to absorb the
laser energy much more readily, for both the pumping and ignition
triggering.