Solid acid catalysts play a significant part in chemical and petroleum industries in hydrocarbon conversion reactions required in octane enhancement processes, such as cracking, isomerization and alkylation, which can form highly branched isoparaffins. Such reactions need strong or moderate acid catalysts. However, halide-type solid acids have a great negative effect on environment. Tungsten oxides supported on oxide carriers have been considered as a more environmental-friendly substitute. Therefore, it has been well studied to be catalysts for hydrocarbon isomerization processes.

Tungsten nanopowder has been widely applied in industrial catalysis, hard materials, thermionic cathodes, and high-power batteries due to its highly oxophilic characteristics. tungsten is the hardest metal in the world, which makes it resistant to acids, alkalis, and oxygen.

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) have been an area of intense research since their discovery in 1993, owing to their extraordinary mechanical and unique electronic properties. It has been applied in fields including field-emission, SPM tips, and sensors.

WC-Co cemented carbide has widely used in machining, drilling, automotive, military, and aerospace owing to its excellent mechanical performances. Most research on cemented tungsten carbides with a cobalt binder (WC-Co cemented carbides) has focused on improving their strength, fracture toughness, and hardness.