Electrodeposition of submicro- and microdispersed molybdenum carbide powders from carbonate-molybdate melts

H. B. Kushkhov, R. Kh. Karatsukova, M.N. Ligidova, A.A. Khotov, J.Z. Ali,

Z.A. Zhanikaeva, M.Kh. Marzhokhova. 

ABSTRACT

       The regularities of joint electrowinning of carbon and molybdenum from carbonate-molybdate melts in the temperature range of 1023–1123 K have been established alkali metals. In the molten system K₂CO₃–Na₂CO₃–Li₂CO₃–Li₂MoO₄, containing the Li⁺ cation due to acid-base interactions and the formation of cationized complexes Li_xMoO₄^(x-2) and Li_xCO₃^(x-2), their electroreduction to metallic molybdenum and carbon at the cathode occurs, and the subsequent their interaction at the atomic level to the formation of molybdenum carbide.

Based on the results of current-voltage measurements, we carried out the electrodeposition of molybdenum carbide in a wide temperature range of 1023–1073 K, current density 0.5–3.0 A/cm², and the composition of the electrolysis bath. It was found that with an increase in temperature, the content of impurity phases (MoC and C) decreases, and at 1173 K these phases are not detected in the product.

The elemental and granulometric composition, morphology and microstructure of molybdenum carbide powder particles have been investigated. The results of these studies indicate that the particle size of the molybdenum carbide powder obtained by the method of electrochemical synthesis is in the submicro and micro ranges.

KEY WORDS:

melts of alkali metal carbonates, electrosynthesis, electroreduction, molybdenum carbide, acid-base interactions.

DOI: 10.31857/S0235010621020055