Synthesis of ultra-fine Mo–Cu nanocomposites by coreduction of mechanical-activated CuMoO4–MoO3 mixtures at low temperature

We report the low temperature synthesis of Mo–Cu composite powders by mechanical-activation (ball-milling) of CuMoO4 and MoO3 mixtures followed by subsequent coreduction process. The phases and microstructures of the Mo–Cu composites were systematically examined by X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope, and correlated with the ball-milling time and reduction temperature. It was shown that mechanical-activation (ball-milling) can significantly enhance the reduction activity by reducing the particle size of powders and hence increasing the reaction surface area, therefore giving rise to the synthesis of Mo–Cu composite powders at relatively low temperature (650 °C). By optimizing the experimental parameters, Mo–25 wt.%Cu nanocomposite powders with superfine particles with size ranging from 100 nm to 200 nm could be successfully obtained by ball-milling for 20 h followed by reduction in hydrogen at 650 °C.