Synthesis of TaC nanopowders by liquid precursor route

TaC nanopowders were synthesized by a liquid precursor route. The synthesis procedures include (1) preparation of tantalum ethylate solution by sufficient mixing TaCl₅ powders with ethanol, (2) adding activated carbon nanopowders to the solution, (3) dispersing activated carbon nanopowders in the solution evenly to form a liquid precursor by an ultrasonic equipment, (4) brushing the liquid precursor on an alumina crucible and blowing the liquid precursor to dry, (5) heat treatment in a graphitization furnace in a vacuum, and (6) brushing the alumina crucible to obtain products. X-ray diffraction patterns indicated that the products were cubic TaC. The formation temperature (1300 °C) of TaC in this process is lower than that (1700 °C) in the conventional method. The reaction time of forming TaC in this process is half an hour. The observed size of TaC powders by TEM was smaller than 50 nm. The specific surface area of the powders by a surface area analyzer was 28.399 m²/g.