Study on reduction reaction of MoO2 powder with NH3

Reaction mechanism between MoO₂ powder and NH₃ in the temperature range of 1028‐1273 K has been investigated. The results show that reduction products are strongly dependent on the reaction temperature employed. It is found that molybdenum nitride (Mo₂N) can be successfully synthesized when the temperature is below 1078 K, with the morphologies keep the same as that of the raw material MoO₂. Although the temperature is above 1078 K, metal Mo powder will be turned up; at the even higher temperatures, the thermodynamically stable phase will be metal Mo. In addition, MoO_xN_1?x as an intermediate product is formed during the reduction processes.