1. Role of Heteroatoms in Stabilizing High-Energy Nitrogen Molecules Douglas L. Strout, Department of Physical Sciences, Alabama State University, Montgomery, AL 36101
Molecules such as N8C8H8 (shown at right) are being theoretically modeled because of their potential as high-energy materials. Such molecules have the ability to decompose in such a way as to release large amounts of energy. One of the decomposition products is ordinary nitrogen, which is environmentally harmless and should mitigate the impact of using these molecules as energy sources.