One-step synthesis of dispersed bimetallic carbides and nitrides from transition metals hexamethylenetetramine complexes

Bimetallic nitrides and carbides Co(Ni)-Mo were obtained from the decomposition of transition metals complexes with hexamethylenetramine (HMTA) under inert atmosphere. The precursor complexes were prepared by means of aqueous precipitation of ammonium molybdate with cobalt nitrate or nickel nitrate and HMTA. During the decomposition, HMTA acts at once as a reducing agent and as a source of carbon and nitrogen. The precursor's composition and the decomposition conditions are the key parameters to influence the nature of the obtained phases. The method developed provides a simple one-step way to highly divided bimetallic nitrides and carbides. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier Inc.