Solid state metathesis: synthesis of metal carbides from metal oxides

Abstract

Bulk reactions of transition metal oxides (V2O3, NaVO3, Nb2O5, LiNbO3, Ta2O5, LiTaO3, MoO3, Li2MoO4 and Li2WO4) with calcium and strontium carbides at 1000 °C for 12 h produce a range of transition metal carbides (V8C7, NbC, TaC, Mo2C and WC) in good yields (ca. 90%). The carbides were characterised by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive analysis by X-rays (EDAX), electron probe, FTIR, microelemental analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron diffraction.