Synthesis of molybdenum carbide using mechanochemical and thermal approaches

The carbothermic reduction of MoS2 using Mg, an efficient sulfur scavenger, was carried out by two very different routes, i.e., mechanochemical reaction and heat treatment. The thermodynamic calculation results show that Mo2C and MgS are the phases formed when the elements are combined, and carbothermic reduction of molybdenite takes place. XRD analysis data indicates no reaction occurred at 1, 2, and 5 h of milling by the mechanochemical method, and the initial phases MoS2, Mg, and C were identified. On the other hand, after 7 hours of milling, Mo2C and MgS phases finally emerged. Through heat treatment, the desired Mo2C and MgS phases were successfully prepared with the crystal diffraction spots obvious at 700, 800, and 900 °C, respectively. Both of these methods produced powders which were then washed with a 10% 1M HCl solution, and as a result, a reasonable yield of pure molybdenum carbide was obtained.