High energy density materials HEDMs

Klapotke, T. M., and Ang, H.-G., Estimation of the Crystalline Density of Ni-tramine (N-N02-based) High Energy Density Materials (HEDM), Propellants, Explosives, Pyrotechnics, Vol. 26, 2001, pp. 221-224. 

The high heat of formation of the N3 cation ( 350 kcal/mol) makes it very attractive as a component of high energy density materials (HEDMs). However, its large vertical electron affinity (vEA) of 6.1 eV poses a problem So far, the preparation of only NsAsFg, N ShF, and NjSb2Fu has been reported. The oxidation of Br2 (IP 10.5 eV) by N SbFj shows that N3 is also susceptible to nucleophilic attack by Lewis bases. Calculations on NjNj show that such a crystal may exist, but nucleophilic attach of the anion is a likely side-reaction. We think that less electronegative derivatives of N3 may be less sensitive to both reduction and nucleophilic attack. 

Modern high-energy-density materials (HEDM) derive most of their energy from either ... 

HEDM (high-energy-density material) Species with highly exothermic decomposition pathways as well as high material density. As applied to fuels and explosives, respectively, more Btu s and bang to the barrel. 

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