Since the 1960s, Christe has been investigating the synthesis of new fluorides of nitrogen, halogen, and the halogen oxides, as well as their ions. Notable examples are the syntheses of both NF4+ and ClF6+. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Henri Moissan's first production of fluorine, Christe in 1986 reported about the first truly chemical synthesis of fluorine. Another important field of his work covers the research on homoleptic nitrogen compounds for use in energetic materials. In this context, he synthesized the bent pentazenium cation, N5+, and was the first to experimentally detect the cyclic pentazolate anion, N5− and to prepare stable high nitrogen pentazolates.C. Yang, C. Zhang, Z. Zheng, C. Jiang, J. Luo, Y. Du, B. Hu, C. Sun, K. O. Christe. Synthesis and Characterization of cyclo-Pentazolate Salts of NH4+, NH3OH+, N2H5+, C(NH2)3+, and N(CH3)4+. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2018, 16488–16494 K. O. Christe, D. A. Dixon, M. Vasiliu, R. Haiges, B. Hu, Prop., Explos., Pyrotech. 2019, 44, 263-266 Both compounds are considered important milestones on the way to even heavier polynitrogen compounds. In 1996, Christe was the first to propose the use of ionic liquids as energetic materials in propulsion systems. He is currently working on the development of oxidizers to replace the dangerous ammonium perchlorate. Christe has authored over 400 peer-review publications, and has more than 60 patents.
