Method of preparing metal carbides and the like and precursors used in such method

A method of producing a shaped product M.sub.a X.sub.b which M represents one or more metals selected from the group consisting of transition metals, lanthanide metals, actinide metals and tin, X represents carbon, and a and b represent the atomic proportions of M and X, and b may be zero, comprising the steps of, in sequence:

• (a) providing a precursor to M.sub.a X.sub.b that is non-volatile upon pyrolysis and which comprises an organometallic complex, said complex including one or more metal atoms M which may be the same or different, and wherein each of said metal atoms M is bound to an organic ligand, said organometallic complex further containing the element X either directly bound to one or more of said metal atoms M or contained within said ligands or both;
• (b) optionally either:
• (i) dissolving said precursor in an organic solvent to give a precursor solution, the solvent selected such that the precursor can be dissolved to a concentration at which the precursor solution has a viscosity sufficient to allow extrusion into a desired form;
• or
• (ii) melting said precursor;
• (c) shaping said precursor into a desired form;
• and
• (d) pyrolyzing said shaped precursor, at a temperature in the range of 500.degree. C. to 950.degree. C., to give M.sub.a X.sub.b as a residue substantially free of organic materials.