Although TiC nanostructures show promise as non‐noble‐metal‐based electrocatalysts, improved synthesis methods are required. Herein, single‐crystalline TiC nanocubes with exposed {100} facets are grown by combusting TiO2 + kMg + C reactive mixtures (k = 4–6.5 mol) in argon. During the synthesis, the temperature increases to 1200–1550 °C and excess Mg (2–4.5 mol) forms a liquid pool. The obtained TiC nanocubes have edge lengths of 50–300 nm and surface areas of 12.2–30.05 m2 g−1. Insights into the TiC nanocube formation mechanism are obtained using density functional theory modeling of the surface energies of TiC nanocrystals and shape visualization using the Wulff construction method. During TiC nucleation and growth within the Mg melt, liquid Mg likely acts as a capping agent for {111} facets, thus promoting the formation of {100} facets. The TiC nanocubes show high electrocatalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction, with a lower overpotential (0.298 V at 10 mA cm−2) than other TiC nanostructures (0.400–0.815 V).
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In article number 2201076, Lee and co‐workers used the combustion synthesis method to grow single‐crystalline TiC nanocubes with exposed (100) facets in liquid Mg medium for the first time. They then validated the formation mechanism using the density functional theory method and evaluated the electrocatalytic performance for the hydrogen evaluation reaction from water.
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