The thrust of a rocket relies on the velocity of the mass released. Heavier molecules with higher velocity would yield higher thrust. Carbon dioxide has much higher vapor pressure than water vapor. It means, at the same temperature carbon dioxide molecules repel each other much stronger than the water vapor resulting much higher velocity.
Carbon and Oxygen would be an ideal rocket fuel and oxidizer combo. ALICE rocket inspired my carbon oxygen rocket design. ALICE is a solid rocket fuel made of Aluminum nano particles embedded in Ice. Therefore, Carbon Nano Particles can be embedded inside Solid Oxygen. The densities and molecular weight of Carbon and Oxygen are much closer to each other than Aluminum and Ice. Almost all rockets use liquid oxygen which has a boiling point of –183°C and freezing point of -219 °C. Therefore obtaining solid oxygen is not that hard compared to boiling point of −253°C for hydrogen.
Solidifying the oxygen allows the carbon nano particles stay suspended inside the rocket fuel. I propose this propellent mix to be used in liquid propellent rockets. The solid mix would be melted by special heaters initially and then the heat from the combustion chamber would melt the solid propellent. There would be a single propellent injector per engine while the fuel and the oxygen are premixed in solid form.
The cost of this type of propellent may not be as low as a liquid methane and oxygen combo. However, it would have higher specific impulse which is beneficial for the second stage of the rockets.
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