Synthesis of Refractory Metal Carbides on Carbon Fibers in Molten Salts and Their Electrocatalytic Properties

Abstract

Coatings of TaC and NbC and Mo2C crystals on carbon fibers were obtained by currentless transfer in molten salts. Investigation of electrocatalytic properties of these compositions in the reaction of the hydrogen peroxide decomposition was carried out. It was determined that the hydrogen peroxide decomposition reaction has a zero order for all refractory metal carbides. Using the values of the rate constants at different temperatures the activation energies for the reaction of the hydrogen peroxide decomposition on refractory metal carbides were calculated using the Arrhenius equation. It has been established that coating of NbC on carbon fibers has a higher electrocatalytical properties in comparison with other carbides. The electrocatalytic properties of NbC/C, TaC/C and Mo2C/C composites were studied also by cyclic voltammetry.