Molten Salt Synthesis of TiC Nanoparticles: Carbon Source Regulation on Microstructure and Oxidation

TiC nanoparticles were controllably synthesized via a molten salt method, employing Ti powder as the titanium source and high-crystallinity graphite and biomass-derived coconut shell carbon as the carbon source. The influences of the carbon source on the phase evolution, microstructure and oxidation of the products were elucidated using XRD, SEM, EDS, and thermogravimetric analysis. The results indicate that coconut shell charcoal exhibits superior reaction kinetics, attributed to the high reactivity of amorphous carbon and the high specific surface area of porous structure. TiC nucleation initiates as low as 700 ℃, and high-purity TiC nanoparticles are obtained at 900 ℃, exhibiting a distinctive coral-like wrinkled morphology derived from the biomass template effect. In contrast, the low reactivity of graphite requires higher temperature to achieve TiC conversion. Coconut shell charcoal-derived TiC displays remarkably higher oxidation onset and peak temperature compared to graphite-derived TiC powder. This study elucidates the influence of carbon source on the structure and oxidation of TiC, providing a technical pathway for fabricating TiC-based functional materials with controllable morphology and superior comprehensive performance.