Synthesis of Mo-Cu nanocomposite powder by hydrogen reduction of copper nitrate coated MoO₃ powder mixture

The fabrication of Mo-based nanocomposite powder with homogeneous dispersion of Cu was investigated. The fine MoO₃ powders were prepared by high energy ball milling, and Cu particles on the ball-milled powder surfaces were formed by calcination of a precursor solution copper nitrate. In the powder mixture calcined at 300 °C, MoO₃ and CuO appeared in the form of aggregates with fine particles. Microstructural analysis showed that the oxide powders were changed to Mo-Cu nanocomposite powders with an average particle size of about 150 nm and had microstructural homogeneity by hydrogen reduction at 800 °C for 1 h. These results are help to optimize the synthesis process of homogeneous Mo-Co nanocomposite powders.