Preparation of Mo nanopowders through electroreduction of solid MoS sub(2) in molten KCl-NaCl

Electrolysis of MoS sub(2) to produce Mo nanopowders and elemental sulfur has been studied in an equimolar mixture of NaCl and KCl at 700 degree C. The reduction mechanism was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), potentiostatic and constant voltage electrolysis together with spectroscopic and scanning electron microscopic analyses. The reduction pathway was identified to be MoS sub(2) arrow right L sub(x)MoS sub(2) (x less than or equal to 1, L = Na or K) arrow right L sub(3)Mo sub(6)S sub(8) and LMo sub(3)S sub(3) arrow right Mo, and the last step to format metallic Mo was found to be relatively slow in kinetics. Electrolysis at a cell voltage of 2.7 V has led to a rapid reduction of MoS sub(2) to nodular Mo nanoparticles (50-100 nm), with the current efficiency and energy consumption being about 92% and 2.07 kW h kg super(-1)-Mo, respectively.