The role of interstitial species upon the ammonia synthesis activity of ternary Fe-Mo-C(N) and Ni-Mo-C(N) phases

Fe3Mo3C has been prepared and its activity for ammonia synthesis was evaluated. As had been observed previously for Co3Mo3C, it was found to be inactive at 400 degrees C. At 500 degrees C activity developed and this can be related to the substitution of lattice carbon by nitrogen. Application of a simple topotactic route to prepare Ni2Mo3C from Ni2Mo3N proved unsuccessful, with the resultant carbonitride formed under optimal synthesis conditions being active for ammonia synthesis at 400 degrees C. (C) 2019 Science Press and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. and Science Press. All rights reserved.