Co-crystallization of Energetic Materials: From Molecular Engineering to Improving the Properties

Co-crystallization is an attractive molecular engineering approach for realizing improved energetic materials (explosives, propellants, and pyrotechnics). When two or more neutral species are combined to form a new structure, co-crystals are created with distinct solid-state properties. The performance criteria of energetic materials (explosive power, thermal stability, and physical sensitivity) are critically depended on some properties such as density and melting point. So, using co-crystallization could improve existing materials and even energetic compounds which were previously abandoned, due to having several disadvantages such as low density or high sensitivity. In this article, several most important efforts of scientists in the novel energetic molecular design field through co-crystallization technic are introduced. Also, reasons of the formation of a co-crystal are investigated from molecular structure point of view.