Nitrogen-Rich Molybdenum Nitride Synthesized in a Crucible under Air

The triple bond in N2 is significantly stronger than the double bond in O2, meaning that synthesizing nitrogen-rich nitrides typically requires activated nitrogen precursors, such as ammonia, plasma-cracked atomic nitrogen, or high-pressure N2. Here, we report a synthesis of nitrogen-rich nitrides under ambient pressure and atmosphere. Using Na2MoO4 and dicyandiamide precursors, we synthesized nitrogen-rich γ-Mo2N3 in an alumina crucible under an ambient atmosphere, heated in a box furnace between 500 and 600 °C. Byproducts of this metathesis reaction include volatile gases and solid Na(OCN), which can be washed away with water. X-ray diffraction and neutron diffraction showed Mo2N3 with a rock salt structure having cation vacancies, with no oxygen incorporation, in contrast to the more common nitrogen-poor rock salt Mo2N with anion vacancies. Moreover, an increase in temperature to 700 °C resulted in molybdenum oxynitride, Mo0.84N0.72O0.27. This work illustrates the potential for dicyandiamide as an ambient-temperature metathesis precursor for an increased effective nitrogen chemical potential under ambient conditions. The classical experimental setting often used for solid-state oxide synthesis, therefore, has the potential to expand the nitride chemistry.

Molybdenum Oxide Nitrides of the Mo2(O,N,□)5 Type: On the Way to Mo2O5

Blue-colored molybdenum oxide nitrides of the Mo₂(O,N,□)₅ type were synthesized by direct nitridation of commercially available molybdenum trioxide with a mixture of gaseous ammonia and oxygen. Chemical composition, crystal structure, and stability of the obtained and hitherto unknown compounds are studied extensively. The average oxidation state of +5 for molybdenum is proven by Mo K near-edge X-ray absorption spectroscopy; the magnetic behavior is in agreement with compounds exhibiting Mo^VO₆ units. The new materials are stable up to ∼773 K in an inert gas atmosphere. At higher temperatures, decomposition is observed. X-ray and neutron powder diffraction, electron diffraction, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy reveal the structure to be related to VNb₉O_24.9-type phases, however, with severe disorder hampering full structure determination. Still, the results demonstrate the possibility of a future synthesis of the potential binary oxide Mo₂O₅. On the basis of these findings, a tentative suggestion on the crystal structure of the potential compound Mo₂O₅, backed by electronic-structure and phonon calculations from first principles, is given.

Preparation, Characterization and Catalytic Activity of Niobium Oxynitride and Oxycarbide in Hydrotreatment

Oxynitride and oxycarbide of niobium present metallic and acidic catalytic functions as evidenced by molecular probe reactions: isomerization of cyclohexane and hydrodenitrogenation of 1–4 tetrahydroquinoline. The proximity of the two functions leads to the concept of “dual site” by selective inhibition of the metallic and acid sites. Substitution of nitrogen of the oxynitride by carbon to form the oxycarbide produces a large enhancement of the metallic character of the surface. The oxynitride was shown to present a more acidic and a less hydrogenating activity as compared to the activity of the oxycarbide. Both compounds of niobium have been compared to molybdenum oxynitride.

Preparation and Characterization of New Molybdenum Nitride or Oxynitride Phases

Several methods of synthesizing molybdenum nitride or oxynitride fine powders are presented.

We have prepared a γ-Mo2N type oxynitride phase by reacting ammonia with MoO3. The surface area and morphology of the oxynitride powders depend on the synthesis conditions. Characterization of the solids by elemental analysis, X-ray and neutron diffraction, and thermogravimetric analysis shows dramatic modification of the stoichiometry of conventional Mo2N nitride. Aging at room temperature under air results in decreasing the material surface area. The initial surface area can be recovered be fine tuning of experimental conditions. MoCl5 and Ca3N2 are reacted in a molten CaCl2 medium leading to a new Mo2N structure type.

The reaction between molybdenum sulfide and NH3 produces two different phases depending on the reaction conditions. They are structurally related to δ-MoN.

Thiophene Adsorption and Activation on MoP(001), γ-Mo2N(100), and Ni2P(001): Density Functional Theory Studies

The adsorption and dissociation of thiophene on the MoP(001), gamma-Mo(2)N(100), and Ni(2)P(001) surfaces have been computed by using the density functional theory method. It is found that thiophene adsorbs dissociatively on MoP(001), while nondissociatively on gamma-Mo(2)N(100) and Ni(2)P(001). On MoP(001), the dissociation of the C-S bonds is favored both thermodynamically and kinetically, while the break of the first C-S bond on gamma-Mo(2)N(100) has an energy barrier of 1.58 eV and is endothermic by 0.73 eV. On Ni(2)P(001) there are Ni(3)P(2)- and Ni(3)P-terminated surfaces. On the Ni(3)P(2)-terminated surface, the dissociation of the C-S bonds of adsorbed thiophene is endothermic, while it is exothermic on the Ni(3)P-terminated surface.

Ta3N5 nanoparticles with enhanced photocatalytic efficiency under visible light irradiation

Nanocrystalline Ta(3)N(5) particles with a surface area of more than 33 m(2)/g were synthesized by nitridation of nanosized Ta(2)O(5) particles using NH(3) as the reactant gas. It was found that nanocrystalline Ta(2)O(5) was converted into Ta(3)N(5) completely (by X-ray diffraction, XRD) at 700 degrees C within 5.0 h, which was much lower than the temperature 900 degrees C for the complete nitridation of micrometer-sized Ta(2)O(5) powder. The oxide precursor and the resulting nitride were characterized by XRD analysis, transmission electron microscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra, and BET surface area techniques. The nitrogen contents in the prepared Ta(3)N(5) powders were quantitatively determined with a CHN elemental analyzer. Nanocrystalline Ta(3)N(5) showed an absorption edge of around 600 nm, and Ta(3)N(5) in the size of about 26 nm exhibited a blue shift of 15 nm in the adsorption edge. The photocatalytic activity of the prepared Ta(3)N(5) under UV-vis and visible light irradiation was compared to that of nanocrystalline TiO(2-x)N(x) using the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) as a model reaction. The Ta(3)N(5) nanoparticles showed the significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of MB in comparison with the larger-sized Ta(3)N(5). Moreover, the nanocrystalline Ta(3)N(5) showed much higher photocatalytic activity under visible light irradiation compared with TiO(2-x)N(x) in the same size.