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. 2025 Oct 6;18(19):4621.
doi: 10.3390/ma18194621.

Research on the Synthesis and Conductivity of Titanium Oxycarbide

Shaolong Li  1   2   3 , Fan Yang  2 , Peizhu Mao  2 , Tianzhu Mu  1 , Fuxing Zhu  1 , Shengwei Li  4
Affiliations

Research on the Synthesis and Conductivity of Titanium Oxycarbide

Shaolong Li et al. Materials (Basel). .

Abstract

In this study, TiCxOy was produced by sintering in an argon atmosphere using carbon-thermal reduction with TiO2 and graphite powder as the initial materials. The sintered TiCxOy was analyzed using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. As the oxygen content increased, the grain color of the sintered TiCxOy gradually shifted from gray to reddish-brown. The structure of TiCxOy resembles that of a coral, with a uniform distribution of Ti, C, and O throughout the sample. Analysis using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals the presence of bivalent, trivalent, and tetravalent titanium. Utilizing General Structure Analysis System software (GSAS-II), the X-ray Diffraction data obtained were refined, revealing a gradual decrease in lattice parameters as the oxygen atom content increased. Furthermore, the conductivity and density of the single phase, determined through the four-probe method and the Archimedes method, respectively, exhibited an increase in tandem with the rise in C content.

Keywords: C/O molar ratio; TiCxOy; carbothermal reduction method.

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Conflict of interest statement

Authors Shaolong Li, Tianzhu Mu and Fuxing Zhu were employed by the company Pangang Group Research Institute Co., Ltd. and author Shengwei Li was employed by the company Western Mining Group Co., Ltd. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Gibbs free energy change and reaction equilibrium constant of TiO2 reacting with C in argon atmosphere (data from HSC 6.0).
Figure 2
Figure 2
The relationship between Equilibrium compositions and temperature under different partial pressures. (data from HSC 6.0). (a) reactions (1); (b) reactions (2).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Schematic diagram of the synthesis process of TiCxOy.
Figure 4
Figure 4
XRD patterns and optical photographs of samples after holding TiO2 and graphite (molar ratio of 1:2) in argon atmosphere at different temperatures for 4 h.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Micro-morphology of samples after holding TiO2 and graphite (molar ratio of 1:2) in argon atmosphere at different temperatures for 4 h. (a) 1200 °C; (b) 1300 °C; (c) 1400 °C; (d) 1500 °C; (e) 1600 °C.
Figure 6
Figure 6
(a) XRD patterns of TiO2 and graphite mixtures with different molar ratios held at 1600 °C in argon atmosphere for 4 h; (b) Diffraction peak displacement of TiCxOy phase.
Figure 7
Figure 7
(a–e) The finishing curves and lattice parameters of TiCxOy (Ti/C molar ratios: 1:2.4, 1:2.2, 1:2.0, 1:1.8 and 1:1.6); (f) Analysis plot of lattice parameter versus carbon content.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Microstructure and composition test results of TiO2 and graphite mixtures with different molar ratios after being held at 1600 °C in argon atmosphere for 4 h. (a) 1:2.4 (b) 1:2.2 (c) 1:2.0 (d) 1:1.8 (e) 1:1.6 (f) Elemental distribution diagram of the product when the raw material ratio was 1:2.0 (g) EDS component detection results in each region (h) Size distribution of TiCxOy.
Figure 9
Figure 9
XPS spectra of TiC0.5O0.5. (a) Broad spectrum; (b) The C 1s region; (c) O 1s region; (d) Ti 2p region.
Figure 10
Figure 10
(a) relation resistivity of TiCxOy; (b) relation density of TiCxOy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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