A fast and environment-friendly method for preparing nanopowders Mo through electro- desulfidation of MoS2 in LiCl melt

Abstract

Fast–reaction rate production of Mo with energy-saving and environmental protection is important for industries. However, the present preparation of Mo by pyrometallurgical process in industry is challenging. Here we demonstrate a solution route through direct electro- desulfidation solid MoS2 at 973 K in LiCl melt with a fast and environment-friendly method. When the scan rate was 50 mV/s, the total reduction (0.5 mg MoS2 in the MCE.) time was less 16 s, and the peak current density was as high as 38 A/cm2 with reference to the geometric surface of the cavity (ca. 0.004 cm2)Nano molybdenum powder can be obtained on cathode and element sulfur on anode. The current efficiency was 95% and energy consumption was 1.02 kWh/kg- Mo. The details of the electro-desulfidation mechanism of solid MoS2 was also investigated by cyclic voltammetry, potentiostatic and constant voltage electrolysis. Accordingly, the electro-desulfidation mechanism may be speculated as followings: the intercalation compound containing Li+ (LixMoS2) was first generated and then LixMoS2 was reduced to nanometer Mo powder.