In this paper, microwave processing of nanostructured ZnO powder as well as preparation of nanostructured ZnO/PEO composite were described. As a fast processing method which introduces a large amount of energy in the reaction system, the role of microwave processing was to modify ZnO crystal structure, while the role of PEO was to additionally sensitivize surface of ZnO particles; both of the approaches were used in the aim to improve optical properties of zinc oxide in comparison with bulk one. The synthesized powders were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS) and photoluminescence (PL). It was found that point defects (oxygen vacancies and zinc interstitials) were created in the crystal structure of zinc oxide. However, PEO has two-fold role, it passivate surface of the ZnO particles, but also introduce oxygen interstitials on the surface. The influence of the point defects on optical properties of ZnO was studied; it was found that oxygen vacancies, zinc interstitials and oxygen interstitials improved percent of thevisible light absorption, also shift band gap energy toward visible range of the spectrum.

Several mixtures, based on urea, urea derivatives some inorganic oxidants, including also aluminia, were studied by means of ballistics mortar with TNT as a reference standard. The Detonation pressure (P), detonation velocity (D), detonation heat (Q) and volume of gaseous product at standard temperature and pressure conditions (STP condition) were calculated using Explo5 V6.3 thermochemical code. The performance of the mixtures studied was discussed in relation to their thermal reactivity, determined by means of differential thermal analysis (DTA) . It is shown that the presence of hydrogen peroxide in the form of its complex with urea (i.e. as UHP) has positive influence on the explosive strength of the corresponding mixtures which is linked to the hydroxy-radical formation in the mixtures during their initiation reaction. These radicals may might initiate (at least partially) powdered aluminium into oxidation in the CJ plane of the detonation wave. Mytures containing UHP and magnesium are dangerous because of potential auto-ignition.