Cabon fiber felt (CFF) supported tungsten carbide and tungsten carbonitride were prepared using a carbonthermal hydrogen reduction process and a carbonthermal ammonia reduction process

respectively. The XRD and TEM results indicated the formation of W2C and WCxNy phase on the above samples with the corresponding particle size range of 2—40 nm and 2—20 nm

respectively. It was found that both catalysts exhibited desired catalytic performances in a one Newton hydrazine microthruster. The properties

including the ignition delay

the steady chamber pressure as well as the steady catalyst bed temperature over the W2C/CFF and WCxNy/CFF catalysts

were better than those over the Ir/CFF. Moreover

due to the negligible activity in methanation reaction

the tungsten-based catalysts exhibited a higher stability than the Ir/CFF catalysts.