Magnesium-assisted formation of metal carbides and nitrides from metal oxides

A series of carbides (TiC, V2C, Mo2C) were synthesized by the corresponding metal oxides (TiO2, V2O5, MoO3), CaC2 and magnesium as starting materials in a stainless steel autoclave at 600 °C. Through similar processes, transition metal nitrides (TiN, VN and CrN) could also be produced by employing the corresponding metal oxides (TiO2, V2O5, Cr2O3), NaNH2, and magnesium as starting materials at 550 °C. The FE-SEM image showed that the TiC sample was mainly consisted of flower-like microstructures. TEM image showed the other carbides (V2C, Mo2C) and the obtained nitride (TiN, VN, CrN) were consisted of nanoparticles. The possible synthesis mechanism of TiC had been described.

► A magnesium-assisted solid state metathesis route for the preparation of metal carbides (TiC, V2C, Mo2C) starting from the corresponding transition metal oxides at 600 °C was reported.
► This low-cost solid-state route has been extended for the preparation of transition metal nitrides.
► This simple route may provide new insights into the synthesis of other transition metal carbides and nitrides.