Embodiments of materials suitable for use as a replacement for Tetrazene and methods of preparing such materials are described. In one embodiment, the material comprises MTX-1, as well as simple salts or complexes derived therefrom. The methods of preparing such materials include combining Tetrazene and an acid to form a suspension, where the acid is nitric acid, sulfuric acid, perchloric acid, or hydrochloric acid. A nitrite salt may be added to the suspension, where the nitrite salt is sodium nitrite, lithium nitrite, potassium nitrite, an aqueous solution of sodium nitrite, an aqueous solution of lithium nitrite, or an aqueous solution of potassium nitrite. In some embodiments, the suspension is stirred until the suspension has a white appearance.