Fabrication of V2O3/C core–shell structured composite and VC nanobelts by the thermal treatment of VO2/C composite

Belt-like V2O3 encapsulated into carbon tubes (V2O3/C) core–shell structured composite and vanadium carbide (VC) nanobelts have been successfully synthesized by the thermal treatment with VO2/C core–shell structured composite through adjusting the heating temperature for the first time. The amorphous carbon on the surface of VO2 plays a dual role in this thermal process, namely as the reductant to reduce VO2 to V2O3 or VC, and as the carbon precursor for the V2O3/C carbon shell and VC. The as-obtained samples were respectively characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer, Raman spectrum, elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller. V2O3/C was successfully synthesized at 700–900 °C for 2 h, and VC nanobelts were successfully prepared at 1000 °C for 2 h. The as-obtained V2O3/C composite and VC nanobelts contain C–H groups, which will facilitate the linkage of catalytic species or polymers to the surface in their potential applications. V2O3/C composite has higher specific surface area than that of VC due to the amorphous carbon coated on the surface of V2O3. Furthermore, the thermal stability of VC in air was investigated by Thermo-Gravimetric/Differential Thermal Analyzer, revealing that it had good thermal stability and oxidation resistance below 335 °C in air.