Molybdenum carbide (Mo2C) has been synthesized via a sodium co-reduction of molybdenum pentachloride (MoCl5) and carbon tetrabromide (CBr4) in benzene at 350 degreesC for 12 h. X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern indicated that the product was mainly hexagonal Mo2C with a small amount of cubic Mo2C. The lattice constants of the hexagonal Mo2C were a = 3.009 and c = 4.736 Angstrom. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) study showed that the product consisted of slightly conglomerated particles of about 30 nm in size. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.