A novel route to nanosized molybdenum boride and carbide and/or metallic molybdenum by thermo-synthesis method from MoO3, KBH4, and CCl4

Nanosized molybdenum boride and carbide were synthesized from MoO₃, KBH₄, and CCl₄ by thermo-synthesis method at lower temperature. The relative content of Mo, Mo₂C, and molybdenum boride in the product was decided by the molar ratio between MoO₃, KBH₄, and CCl₄. Increasing the molar ratio of CCl₄ to MoO₃ was favorable to the production of Mo₂C. Increasing the molar ratio of KBH₄ to MoO₃ was favorable to the production of molybdenum boride. By carefully adjusting the reaction conditions and annealing in Ar at 900°C, a single phase of MoB could be obtained.