A comparison of methods to predict solid phase heats of formation of molecular energetic salts.

In this study a variety of methods were used to compute the energies for lattice enthalpies and gas phase heats of formation of the ionic constituents used in Born-Fajans-Haber cycles to produce solid phase heats of formation of molecular ionic energetic crystals. Several quantum mechanically based or empirical approaches to calculate either the heat of formation of the ionic constituents in the gas phase (deltaH(o)f(g)) or the lattice enthalpy (deltaH(o)Lattice) were evaluated. Solid phase heats of formation calculated from combinations of deltaH(o)f(g) and deltaH(o)Lattice determined through various approaches are compared with experimental values for a series of molecular energetic salts with 1:1, 2:1 and 2:2 charge ratios. Recommendations for combinations of deltaH(o)f(g) and deltaH(o)Lattice to produce best agreement with experiment are given, along with suggestions for improvements of the methods.