Low-Temperature Molten Salt Synthesis and Characterization of Nanowire-Like TaB2 Powder

TaB2 nanopowder has been prepared by the molten salt synthesis (MSS) technique. Nanowire-like TaB2 nanopowder was successfully synthesized by reacting in the Ta2O5–MgB2 system using KCl/NaCl as reaction media. The impact of the firing temperature (800°C to 1000°C), firing time (1 h to 4 h), and ratio of reactants to salt (1:0, 1:2, 1:5, and 1:10) on the preparation of the TaB2 nanopowder was examined. The resultant powder samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and surface area analysis (SAA). The results showed that the reaction involved in the formation of crystalline TaB2 nanopowder could be completed successfully at 1000°C after 4 h of firing when the mass ratio of reactants to salt was 1:5. The resulting TaB2 nanopowders exhibited nanowire-like morphology.