Synthesis of AgN and its extended 3D energetic framework.

The pentazolate anion, as a polynitrogen species, holds great promise as a high-energy density material for explosive or propulsion applications. Designing pentazole complexes that contain minimal non-energetic components is desirable in order to increase the material's energy density. Here, we report a solvent-free pentazolate complex, AgN, and a 3D energetic-framework, [Ag(NH)][Ag(N)]-, constructed from silver and cyclo-N-. The complexes are stable up to 90 °C and only Ag and N are observed as the final decomposition products. Efforts to isolate pure AgN were unsuccessful due to partial photolytical and/or thermal-decomposition to AgN. Convincing evidence for the formation of AgN as the original reaction product is presented. The isolation of a cyclo-N- complex, devoid of stabilizing molecules and ions, such as HO, HO, and NH, constitutes a major advance in pentazole chemistry.