Template‐Free Pseudomorphic Synthesis of Tungsten Carbide Nanorods

Abstract A unique nanorod‐structured tungsten carbide material with high specific surface area of 198 m 2 g −1 is successfully synthesized for the first time by pseudomorphic transformation of chemically synthesized WO 3 nanorods through a high‐temperature method. An electrocatalyst composed of Pt nanoparticles supported on WC nanorods demonstrates higher electrocatalytic activity for methanol electro‐oxidation, better tolerance to CO poisoning, and superior performance for cathodic electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution than a Pt/C catalyst. This work provides a novel method to synthesize high‐surface‐area nanorod‐structured WC materials by preparing oxide precursors with the desired external morphology, thus offering great potential for a broad range of applications of these materials in related reaction systems.