Hydrogen-assisted one-pot synthesis of ultrasmall TiC nanoparticles enhancing hydrogen cycling of sodium alanate

•2–4 nm-sized TiC particles are fabricated by hydrogen-assisted one-pot calcination.•Ultrasmall TiC nanoparticles effectively improve H2 storage properties of NaAlH4.•The 7 wt% nano-TiC@C modified NaAlH4 releases 5 wt% H2 starting from 65 °C.•Full hydrogenation can be achieved at 30 °C under 100 bar H2.•Ultrasmall TiC particles lead to highly reactive catalytic species.