Low-temperature and efficient preparation of starfish-like Mo2C/C composites from waste biomass

In this study, starfish-like Mo2C/C biomass ceramic composites were successfully prepared using waste pine as a C template precursor through rapid heat and mass transfer in a molten salt environment. The effects of the reaction temperature and molten salt on the formation of the Mo2C/C ceramic composites were investigated. The mechanism involved in the preparation of Mo2C/C ceramic composites in a molten salt liquid environment was determined. The results showed that the mixed molten salt environment comprising KF/KCl with a low KF content could promote the formation of Mo2C. The mixed molten salt environment was beneficial for the formation of regular Mo2C flakes, which interwove together to form a “starfish-like” shape as the reaction temperature increased to significantly increase the proportion of micropores and specific surface area of the composites. In addition, the formation of Mo2C in the C template occurred in two steps, where Mo first reacted with C to form MoC and the liquid Mo then reacted with MoC to form Mo2C. •Starfish-like Mo2C/C composite was successfully synthesized by molten salt.•The formation of Mo2C increases the specific surface area of the composites.•The formation mechanism of starfish-like Mo2C/C composites was discussed.