Microwave-Assisted Combustion Synthesis of Tantalum Nitride in a Fluidized Bed

Combustion synthesis experiments in a fluidized bed have been conducted using nitrogen as the fluidizing gas for the formation of transition-metal nitrides that are potential replacements for traditional hydrodenitrogenation and hydrodesulfurization catalysts. The microwave-assisted ignition of reaction has been investigated for its potential to produce nitride overlayers on two different sizes of tantalum particle substrates. Various characterization techniques—X-ray diffractometry, energy dispersive spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy—have been used to study the presence of nitride overlayers. The results indicate that microwave assistance can permit controlled formation of tantalum nitride (Ta₂N) overlayers.