Titanium carbide (
TiC) nanoparticles are readily deposited onto
tin-doped
indium oxide (ITO)
electrodes in the form of thin porous films. The nanoparticle deposits are electrically highly conducting and electrochemically active. In aqueous media (at pH 7) and at applied potentials positive of 0.3 V vs. SCE partial anodic surface oxidation and formation (at least in part) of novel core-shell TiC-TiO2 nanoparticles is observed. Significant thermal oxidation of
TiC nanoparticles by heating in air occurs at a temperature of 250 degrees C and leads first to core-shell TiC-TiO2 nanoparticles, next at ca. 350 degrees C to TiO2 (
anatase), and finally at temperatures higher than 750 degrees C to TiO2 (
rutile). Electrochemically and thermally partially oxidized
TiC nanoparticles still remain very active and for some redox systems electrocatalytically active. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), temperature dependent XRD,
quartz crystal microbalance, and voltammetric measurements are reported. The electrocatalytic properties of the core-shell TiC-TiO2 nanoparticulate films are surveyed for the oxidation of
hydroquinone,
ascorbic acid, and
dopamine in aqueous
buffer media. In TiC-TiO2 core-shell nanoparticle films TiO2 surface reactivity can be combined with
TiC conductivity.