Eta phase materials, methods of producing the same, and use thereof as

Abstract

An eta phase composition in powder form, prepared in the absence of sulfur or sulfur bearing compounds, having a surface area greater than about 2m.sup.2 /g and consisting of X.sub.6 Y.sub.6 Z.sub.a wherein X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mo and W, Y is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ni, Mo and W, Z is at least one element selected from the group consisting of C, N and combinations thereof such that when Z is N, a is greater than or equal to 1 but less than or equal to 2 and when Z is C, a is greater than 1 but less than or equal to 2 except when Z is C and Y is Fe, then a is greater than or equal to 1 but less than or equal to 2. The eta phase may be a carbide, nitride or carbonitride. A method for producing the eta-phase composition includes providing a precursor compound including at least two eta-phase forming metals, and a ligand containing carbon, nitrogen or combinations thereof. The precursor compound is thermally decomposed in a nonoxidizing atmosphere, free of sulfur or sulfur bearing compounds, and reacts with carbon or nitrogen derived from the decomposition of the ligand with the metals to form the eta-phase. The eta phase forming metals are at least two of the metals tungsten, molybdenum, nickel, cobalt and iron. These eta-phase composition may be used for producing or converting hydrocarbons or alchols. This includes hydrogenation of CO (to produce at least one hydrocarbon or at least one alcohol and hydrogenation of unsaturated hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons and olefinic hydrocarbons), isomerization and dehydrogenation.