Tungsten carbide (WC) nanocrystallines were loaded onto the surface of microwave-exfoliated reduced graphene oxide (RGO) using program-controlled reduction-carbonization technique and modified impregnation method in the presence of ionic liquid (IL). The characterization results show that WC nanocrystallines with a size of ca.80 nm were highly dispersed on RGO with the assistance of IL. The electrocatalytic activity of the prepared WC/RGO (IL) was evaluated in the nitrobenzene reduction reaction. It was found that the WC/RGO (IL) gave better activity and stability than single RGO or WC/RGO that were prepared in the absence of IL. The high activity of WC/RGO (IL) can be explained to be the result of the synergistic function between WC and RGO. It was also proved that the pre-treatment of GO by microwave-exfoliated method was an effective way to form the graphene-based intercalation materials. Our study demonstrated that WC/RGO (IL) could be a promising alternative catalyst toward the nitrobenzene electroreduction because of its higher performance and lower cost. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.