Molybdenum carbides
(MoC and Mo2C) are being reported
for various applications, for example, catalysts for sustainable energies,
nonlinear materials for laser applications, protective coatings for
improving tribological performance, and so on. A one-step method for
simultaneously fabricating molybdenum monocarbide (MoC) nanoparticles
(NPs) and MoC surfaces with a laser-induced periodic surface structure
(LIPSS) was developed by using pulsed laser ablation of a molybdenum
(Mo) substrate in hexane. Spherical NPs with an average diameter of
61 nm were observed by scanning electron microscopy. The X-ray diffraction
pattern and electron diffraction (ED) pattern results indicate that
a face-centered cubic MoC was successfully synthesized for the NPs
and on the laser-irradiated area. Notably, the ED pattern suggests
that the observed NPs are nanosized single crystals, and a carbon
shell was observed on the surface of MoC NPs. The X-ray diffraction
pattern of both MoC NPs and LIPSS surface indicates the formation
of FCC MoC, agreeing with the results of ED. The results of X-ray
photoelectron spectroscopy also showed the bonding energy attributed
to Mo–C, and the sp2–sp3 transition
was confirmed on the LIPSS surface. The results of Raman spectroscopy
have also supported the formation of MoC and amorphous carbon structures.
This simple synthesis method for MoC may provide new possibilities
for preparing Mo
x
C-based devices and nanomaterials,
which may contribute to the development of catalytic, photonic, and
tribological fields.
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