Nanoparticle based molecular spectroscopic determination of propellant energetic material ammonium dinitramide and nitro-energetic substances

The use of ammonium dinitramide (ADN) and guanylurea dinitramide (FOX-12) in the defense industry is very important in terms of contributing to the green transformation in the defense industry. Within the scope of the thesis work, molecular spectroscopic determination of two rocket propellants was carried out. In the first work, ADN was determined spectrophotometrically below the picomolar level by aggregating melamine modified gold nanoparticles in the presence of ADN. In this work, the limit of detection (LOD) of ADN were found to be 0.013 ng L-1 and 0.043 ng L-1 respectively. The developed sensor was applied to explosive mixtures, trace amounts of ions in the soil and sandy soil sample. It was observed that nitramine, nitroaromatic and nitrate ester type explosives did not affect the developed sensor. It was also observed that trace amounts of ions in the soil and camouflage materials did not affect the sensor. The developed method was compared statistically with F- and t- tests by taking the previously developed voltammetric ADN determination method as reference. In the voltammetric method used as reference, graphene modified glassy carbon electrode was used. In the second part of the thesis, FOX-12 was determined spectrophotometrically by functionalizing spherical gold nanoparticles using piperazine. After the surface of the gold nanoparticles is functionalized with piperazine and FOX-12 is added to the medium, the aggregation of the gold nanoparticles occurs through hydrogen bridges formed between guanylurea dinitramide and piperazine molecules attached to the gold nanoparticle surface. The detection limit of the developed FOX-12 determination method was found 1.36 mg L-1. The effects of trace amounts of anions and cations commonly found in soil, as well as nitramine, nitroaromatic and nitrate ester type explosives on the developed FOX-12 sensor were investigated. In addition, the developed method was compared statistically with the HPLC determination method of FOX-12 available in the literature using F- and t- tests.