Exfoliated Magnesium Diboride (MgB₂) Nanosheets as Solid Fuels

Magnesium diboride (MgB₂) has been explored as an alternative fuel to boron (B) due to its high energy density and the additive effect of magnesium (Mg) to promote B combustion. However, the primary oxidation of MgB₂ does not occur unless it decomposes at a high temperature (830 °C), which makes ignition difficult and the reaction slow. Recently, two-dimensional (2D) exfoliated MgB₂ nanosheets have attracted increasing attention due to their unique properties and potential applications in various fields. In this study, we investigate the potential of 2D exfoliated MgB₂ nanosheets as solid fuels for overcoming the challenges of MgB₂ combustion. We analyzed their oxidation behavior and energetic performance through material characterization and combustion tests under slow- and fast-heating conditions and compared their performance with those of bulk MgB₂, B nanoparticles, and a B/Mg nanoparticle mixture. This study highlights the potential of MgB₂ nanosheets as promising solid fuels with superior energetic properties.