Facile Synthesis of MoC Nanoparticles from Waste Polyvinyl Chloride.

The resource utilization of waste plastic can not only control environmental pollution but can also ease up the problems of lack of energy resources. In this study, molybdenum carbide (MoC) nanoparticles have been synthesized by utilizing waste polyvinyl chloride as a carbon source in a stainless-steel autoclave at 600 °C. X-ray diffraction pattern indicates that the product is orthorhombic phase MoC. Electron microscopy photographs show that the obtained MoC product consisted of crystalline nanoparticles with an average size of 50 nm. The possible formation mechanisms of MoC have been also briefly discussed on the basis of the structures of the products synthesized with different reaction times. The effects of reaction temperature on the crystallinity and microstructure of the obtained products have been investigated. The results show that higher reaction temperature promotes the formation of MoC with high crystallinity.