Thermodynamic Analysis and Synthesis of Metallic Molybdenum Powder via the Solution Combustion Synthesis Process

This study investigates the production of metallic molybdenum powder through the solution combustion synthesis (SCS) method. Despite thermodynamic challenges posed by potential back-oxidation under equilibrium conditions, the non-equilibrium nature of SCS facilitates the formation of metallic molybdenum. Experimental evidence suggests that Mo6+ actively participates as an oxidizer in the process, leading to the reduction of Mo6+ to Mo4+. Subsequent reduction of MoO2 is primarily driven by reactions with methane, a byproduct of the SCS process. Characterization of the gel precursor reveals the formation of a molybdenum-citric acid dimer. The resulting molybdenum powder exhibits a semi-amorphous structure with a developed specific surface area and low metallic impurity content but contains a significant amount of residual organic compounds. While heat treatment does not effectively remove these impurities, future research efforts should focus on developing purification strategies to minimize organic contamination.