Methods for producing metal carbide and hydrocarbon, and carbon-containing member

Abstract

A method for producing a metal carbide including: preparing a molten salt containing at least one first metal ion selected from alkali metal ions or alkali earth metal ions; preparing an electrode containing carbon; and applying a voltage to the molten salt using the electrode to obtain a metal carbide composition containing a carbide of the first metal.

1 . A method for producing a metal carbide comprising:
 preparing a molten salt containing at least one first metal ion selected from the group consisting of alkali metal ions and alkali earth metal ions;   preparing an electrode containing carbon; and   applying a voltage to the molten salt using the electrode to obtain a metal carbide composition containing a carbide of the first metal,   wherein the molten salt is substantially free from carbonate ions.   
     
     
         2 . The method for producing a metal carbide according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrode contains at least one selected from the group consisting of glassy carbon, natural graphite, isotropic carbon, highly oriented pyrolytic graphite, plastic formed carbon, and conductive diamond. 
     
     
         3 . The method for producing a metal carbide according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrode contains highly oriented pyrolytic graphite. 
     
     
         4 . The method for producing a metal carbide according to  claim 1 , wherein the molten salt contains at least one of a halide ion and an oxide ion as an anion. 
     
     
         5 . The method for producing a metal carbide according to  claim 1 , wherein the molten salt contains both a halide ion and an oxide ion as the anion. 
     
     
         6 . The method for producing a metal carbide according to  claim 4 , wherein the molten salt contains a chloride ion as the halide ion. 
     
     
         7 . The method for producing a metal carbide according to  claim 4 , wherein the molten salt contains a fluoride ion as the halide ion. 
     
     
         8 . The method for producing a metal carbide according to  claim 1 , wherein the metal carbide composition further contains at least one selected from the group consisting of carbon, a simple substance, a halide, a carbonate, an oxide, a hydride, and a peroxide of the first metal. 
     
     
         9 . The method for producing a metal carbide according to  claim 1 , wherein the molten salt contains one selected from the group consisting of a lithium ion, a sodium ion, and a potassium ion, and a calcium ion as the first metal ion. 
     
     
         10 . A method for producing a hydrocarbon, comprising:
 preparing a molten salt containing at least one first metal ion selected from the group consisting of alkali metal ions and alkali earth metal ions;   preparing an electrode containing carbon;   applying a voltage to the molten salt using the electrode to obtain a metal carbide composition containing a carbide of the first metal; and   hydrolyzing the carbide of the first metal to obtain gas containing a hydrocarbon,   wherein the molten salt is substantially free from carbonate ions.   
     
     
         11 . The method for producing a hydrocarbon according to  claim 10 , wherein the hydrocarbon is acetylene. 
     
     
         12 . The method for producing a hydrocarbon according to  claim 10 , wherein the gas comprises acetylene as the hydrocarbon, and further comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of ethylene, ethane, methane, methylacetylene, propylene, butene, and hydrogen. 
     
     
         13 . A carbon-containing member comprising:
 a base containing carbon, and   a metal carbide composition supported on the base, the metal carbide composition containing a carbide of at least one first metal selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and alkali earth metals.