Cobalt Molybdenum Carbides: Preparation and Reactivity for Methane Decomposition

Abstract

The conversion of methane for H2 production over a CoMo catalyst with several Co loadings carbided at various temperatures using two carbiding methods of different heating rates was studied. The effects of the CO₂ addition and H₂ pretreatment on the catalyst lifetime were determined. The low-temperature carbiding increased the surface area of the catalysts and produced CoMo oxycarbides decorated with pyrolytic carbons, from which hydrogen and graphite carbons were produced during the CH₄ reaction. The high-temperature carbiding produced CoMo carbides. The CoMo oxycarbides had the structure of β-Mo₂C with Co metal.