Michael F. Russo

Effect of formic acid addition on water cluster stability and structure.

Computational chemistry simulations were performed to determine the effect that the addition of a single formic acid molecule has on the structure and stability of protonated water clusters. Previous experimental studies showed that addition of formic acid to protonated pure water results in higher intensities of large-sized clusters when compared to pure water and methanol-water mixed clusters. For larger, protonated clusters, molecular dynamics simulations were performed on H(+)(H(2)O)(n), H(+)(H(2)O)(n)CH(3)OH, and H(+)(H(2)O)(n)CHOOH clusters, 19-28 molecules in size, using a reactive force field (ReaxFF). Based on these computations, formic acid-water clusters were found to have significantly higher binding energies per molecule. Addition of formic acid to a water cluster was found to alter the structure of the hydrogen-bonding network, creating selective sites within the cluster, enabling the formation of new hydrogen bonds, and increasing both the stability of the cluster and its rate of growth.

Combustion of 1,5-Dinitrobiuret (DNB) in the Presence of Nitric Acid Using ReaxFF Molecular Dynamics Simulations

In this study we have examined the combustion dynamics of 1,5-dinitrobiuret (DNB) and nitric acid using reactive molecular dynamics simulations. Simulations were performed using the ReaxFF force field with parameters that were fitted against quantum mechanical calculations on model compounds/clusters relevant for this particular chemical system. Several different compositions were investigated, at densities of 0.5 and 1.0 g/mL, to examine the reaction kinetics in a dense vapor and liquid phase of these mixtures. Our simulations show that at certain compositions of the mixture reaction kinetics result in a very sharp release of thermal energy, which we associate with spontaneous ignition or hypergolicity. Analysis of key reaction mechanisms responsible for this process is discussed.

ReaxFF molecular dynamics simulations of intermediate species in dicyanamide anion and nitric acid hypergolic combustion

Ionic liquids based on the dicyanamide anion (DCA) are of interest as replacements for current hypergolic fuels, which are highly toxic. To better understand the reaction dynamics of these ionic liquid fuels, this study reports the results of molecular dynamics simulations performed for two predicted intermediate compounds in DCA-based ionic liquids/nitric acid (HNO3) combustion, i.e. protonated DCA (DCAH) and nitro-dicyanamide-carbonyl (NDC). Calculations were performed using a ReaxFF reactive force field. Single component simulations show that neat NDC undergo exothermic decomposition and ignition. Simulations with HNO3 were performed at both a low (0.25 g ml−1) and high (1.00 g ml−1) densities, to investigate the reaction in a dense vapor and liquid phase, respectively. Both DCAH and NDC react hypergolically with HNO3, and increased density led to shorter times for the onset of thermal runaway. Contrary to a proposed mechanism for DCA combustion, neither DCAH nor NDC are converted to 1,5-Dinitrobiuret (DNB) before thermal runaway. Details of reaction pathways for these processes are discussed.