Effect of Cu during Non-isothermal hydrogen reduction of MoO3

Abstract

The effect of Cu on the hydrogen reduction of molybdenum oxide powders was investigated by measuring the humidity change during a non-isothermal process of hydrogen reduction. The presence of Cu induced a shift in the reduction temperature and strongly affected the reduction processes of MoO 3-→Mo4O11→MoO2, which comprised the contained chemical vapor transport of MoOx(OH) 2. This study suggests that the surface of the Cu grains acts as a nucleation site for the reduction of MoOx(OH)2 to MoO 2 particles from MoO3 or Mo4O11 phases. Such an activated reduction process results in the deposition of metallic Mo and MoO2 particles on the surface of the Cu grains.