Research Areas
Addressing National Strategic Needs and Energetic Frontiers
Energetic Molecular Design & High-Energy Density Compounds
Focusing on rational design of nitrogen-rich and fused-ring skeletons to achieve the intrinsic balance between high energy density and chemical stability.
The chemical energy of high-nitrogen compounds originates primarily from positive heats of formation of the nitrogen-rich backbone and gas expansion during detonation. However, traditional high-energy materials typically suffer from an intrinsic trade-off between energy content and mechanical sensitivity.
Our team develops fused-ring and high-nitrogen heterocyclic skeletons via density functional theory (DFT) screening and synthetic methodology, optimizing intramolecular hydrogen bonding and multi-nitro functionalization.
Through dehydration-assisted coordination strategies and crystal-water exchange mechanisms, we have created high-density, thermally stable energetic compounds, laying an experimental and theoretical foundation for advanced special energy applications.
Graphite-like Layered Stacking & Insensitive High-Energy Materials
Engineering ultra-flat 2D layered crystal architectures with planar hydrogen-bond networks and interlayer π-π interactions to mitigate mechanical shock sensitivity.
Insensitive high-explosives are vital for the full life-cycle safety of munitions and energetic systems. Conventional energetic crystals readily accumulate stress concentrations during impact or friction, triggering 'hot spots' and accidental detonation.
Inspired by the natural lubricious shear-slip behavior of graphite, our group developed ultra-planar two-dimensional layered energetic crystals. Strong planar conjugated networks and intramolecular hydrogen bonds stabilize the sheets, while uniform interlayer π-π interactions enable efficient energy dissipation.
This crystal-engineering paradigm enables energetic materials to withstand high mechanical shock while maintaining remarkable detonation parameters, providing a solid scientific basis for next-generation insensitive munitions.
Green Primary Explosives & Perovskite Energetic Frameworks
Overcoming the toxic heavy-metal legacy of conventional lead-based initiators by designing metal-free perovskite energetic structures with remarkable initiation performance.
Primary explosives are critical trigger components in ignition trains. For over a century, military and civilian systems have predominantly relied on toxic lead salts such as lead azide and lead styphnate, posing severe environmental contamination and health risks.
To tackle the intrinsic challenge of obtaining high initiation efficiency without toxic heavy metals, our group introduced perovskite structural topologies into energetic coordination chemistry.
As the lead affiliation, our group published in Nature Communications the discovery of DPPE-1, a metal-free perovskite-like primary explosive. DPPE-1 demonstrates outstanding initiation capability, thermal safety, and clean detonation products, highlighting viable commercial and defense transition potential.
Advanced Safety-Protection Technologies & Equipment
Targeting safety risk mitigation throughout the manufacturing, storage, and transport of energetic materials via explosion suppression barriers and intelligent hazard monitoring.
Drawing upon North University of China's strong engineering foundation in Safety Science and Special Energy Technology, we integrate molecular intrinsic safety with structural physical protection systems.
Our work addresses thermal runaway dynamics, explosion shockwave propagation in confined structures, and multi-phase suppression mechanisms through high-rate instrumentation and multiphysics modeling.
Translating laboratory discoveries into engineered prototypes, the team has delivered modular blast-containment units and intelligent hazard monitoring equipment, recognized by the First Prize of the Science and Technology Progress Award from the China Association of Work Safety.