Synthesis of transition metal carbide nanoparticles through melamine and metal oxides

By a facile reaction route, we synthesized five technologically important transition metal carbide nanoparticles including cubic NbC, TaC, VC, hexagonal WC and MoC at relatively low temperatures. Here, in this rapid reaction process, we choose an organic reagent melamine and transition metal oxides as reaction precursors. The experimental results indicate that melamine is a highly efficient carburization reagent, and the metal oxides are completely converted into the corresponding carbides at relatively low temperatures. It is found that NbC, TaC, VC and WC are composed of fine nanoparticles having average size of 7, 13, 5 and 18 nm with a fairly narrow size distribution, respectively. The potential reaction mechanism between melamine and transition metal oxides and some new characteristics involved in this route are presented and discussed. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.