Preparation of small-sized tungsten carbide nanorods for loading Pt with promoted electrocatalytic activity and stable anti-poisoning performance

• Published in: RSC advances Vol. 7; no. 89; pp. 56713 - 5672
• Main Authors: Lv, Chao, Wu, Gao, Liu, Kai Xi, Zhu, Yi Song, Yin, Yan Hong, Hu, Ying Yan, Li, Ye Sheng, Liu, Xian Bin, Wu, Zi Ping
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Royal Society of Chemistry 01-01-2017
• Subjects: Citric acid; Electrochemistry; Morphology; Multi wall carbon nanotubes; Nanoparticles; Nanorods; Poisoning; Specific surface; Surface area; Synergistic effect; Tungsten carbide; Tungsten oxides
• ISSN: 2046-2069; 2046-2069
• DOI: 10.1039/c7ra08065d

The Pt-like behavior and synergistic effect of tungsten carbides (WCs) are increased with decreased size and affected by their morphology. However, achieving high specific surface areas of nanostructured WCs with a small size and controlled morphology remains a considerable challenge. In the present studies, WC nanorods with a diameter and length of approximately 50 and 100-300 nm, respectively, were prepared. The morphology of the obtained WO
3
·H
2
O was controlled by adding citric acid to the reaction solution. The secondary growth of WO
3
·H
2
O crystals was efficiently restrained because double-walled carbon nanotubes were homogenously dispersed in the solution. When the WO
3
·H
2
O nanorods were heated in air and carbonized in a nitrogen atmosphere, small-sized WC nanorods with a high specific surface area (32.2 m
2
g
−1
) were obtained. Furthermore, the obtained catalysts displayed improved electrocatalytic activity and stable anti-poisoning performance when the WC nanorods were used as a support for loading platinum nanoparticles. All these results indicate the potential application of WC nanorods in electrochemistry and related fields.
The WO
3
·H
2
O rod with diameter and length of 20 and 100 nm was controlled by citric acid and DWCNTs. When the samples were heated in air and carbonized in nitrogen, WC nanorods with high specific surface area of 32.2 m
2
g
−1
were obtained.