Electrochemical Synthesis of Tungsten Carbide in Molten Salts, Its Properties and Applications

Abstract

The peculiarities of the partial and joint electrodeposition of tungsten and carbon on platinum and glassy carbon cathodes in the chloride-oxide melt NaCl–KCl–NaPO3–CO2 have been studied by cyclic voltammetry. The potential and current density ranges and bath component rations for the high-temperature electrochemical synthesis of WC and W2C powders have been determined. Compositions, physicochemical properties, structural and morphological peculiarities of carbide products have been studied by chemical, BET and XRD analyses, SEM, TEM, Raman and Auger spectroscopy. The investigation showed that composite mixtures of WC and W2C with carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) of different composition and single-phase nano-sized powders of hexagonal α-WC of different morphology with a specific surface of up to 25 m2/g can be obtained by the electrolytic method. The electrocatalytic activity of tungsten monocarbide in the hydrogen evolution reaction in acid solution has been assessed.