The structural evolution of MoC and MoC/SiO under dry reforming of methane conditions: morphology and support effects.

The thermal carburization of MoO nanobelts (nb) and SiO-supported MoO nanosheets under a 1 : 4 mixture of CH : H yields MoC-nb and MoC/SiO. Following this process by Mo K-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) reveals different carburization pathways for unsupported and supported MoO. In particular, the carburization of α-MoO-nb proceeds MoO, and that of MoO/SiO the formation of highly dispersed MoO species.

Exploiting two-dimensional morphology of molybdenum oxycarbide to enable efficient catalytic dry reforming of methane.

The two-dimensional morphology of molybdenum oxycarbide (2D-MoCO) nanosheets dispersed on silica is found vital for imparting high stability and catalytic activity in the dry reforming of methane. Here we report that owing to the maximized metal utilization, the specific activity of 2D-MoCO/SiO exceeds that of other MoC catalysts by ca. 3 orders of magnitude.

Molybdenum carbide and oxycarbide from carbon-supported MoO nanosheets: phase evolution and DRM catalytic activity assessed by TEM and in situ XANES/XRD methods.

Molybdenum carbide (β-MoC) supported on carbon spheres was prepared via a carbothermal hydrogen reduction (CHR) method from delaminated nanosheets of molybdenum(vi) oxide (d-MoO/C). The carburization process was followed by combined in situ XANES/XRD analysis revealing the formation of molybdenum oxycarbide MoCO as an intermediate phase during the transformation of d-MoO/C to β-MoC/C. It was found that MoCO could not be completely carburized to β-MoC under a He atmosphere at 750 °C, instead a reduction in H is required.