High surface area Mo2C and WC prepared by alkalide reduction

alpha-Mo(2)C (orthorhombic) and alpha-WC (hexagonal) nanoparticles have been synthesized by subambient alkalide reduction. The initial products appear to be either amorphous or subnanocrystalline. Annealing above 575 and 1100 degreesC respectively resulted in X-ray crystalline material. The alpha-Mo(2)C nanoparticles were found to have an average particle diameter of 3.1 nm by TEM with a narrow, log-normal distribution. Surface areas of as high as 229 m(2)/g were observed by the BET method. The alpha-WC nanoparticles were found to have a much broader size distribution with particles ranging from similar to3 to 50 nm. Surface areas were found to be as high as 140 m(2)/g.