Monotungsten carbide and titania nanocomposite with core-shell(WC@TiO

2

)structure was prepared by a new approach of spray drying and reduction-carbonization reaction

with titania nanopowder and ammonium metatungstate as precursors

methane as carbon source

and hydrogen as reduction gas.The sample was characterized by X-ray diffraction

scanning electron microscope

high resolution transmission electron microscope and X-ray energy dispersion spectroscopy.The results show that its crystal phase is composed of brookite

tungsten and monotungsten carbide.The morphology of the sample particle is irregular sphere-like

with a diameter smaller than 100 nm.Its chemical components are titanium

tungsten

carbon and oxygen.Monotungsten carbide nanoparticles lie on the surface of titania core and form an incomplete shell around titania core in the nanocomposite.The measurement with a microelectrode system of three electrodes shows that the sample is electrocatalytic active to nitrophenol in basic solution at room temperature.Its peak potential is at 0.988 V(

vs

saturated calomel electrode (SCE))

which is more negative than the peak potential

0.817 V(

vs

SCE)

of mesoporous monotungsten carbide

and its peak current is 8.809μA

which is higher than the peak current

4.058μA

of mesoporous monotungsten carbide.The hydrogen generation potential of the sample is at1.199 V(

vs

SCE)

which is more negative than that of pure nanosized monotungsten carbide at 1.100 V(

vs

SCE).Thes

e results show that the presence of titania in the sample can lower the peak potential of nitrophenol electrocatalysis and its hydrogen generation potential

and increase its peak current of nitrophenol electrocatalysis in basic solution at room temperature.This indicates a synergistic effect of titania and monotungsten carbide in electrocatalysis.