The confined growth of few-layered and ultrashort-slab Ni-promoted MoS2 on reduced graphene oxide for deep-degree hydrodesulfurization

Hydrodesulfurization (HDS) is an essential process in clean fuel oil production, however, the huge challenge synthesis of catalyst with plentiful active sites. Here, we have shown design few-layered, ultrashort Ni-Mo-S slabs dispersed on reduced graphene oxide (Ni-Mo-S/rGO-A) based anchoring [PMo12O40]3− clusters and Ni2+ polyethyleneimine (PEI)-modified graphite oxide. Structural characterizations (transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS), etc.) show that predominant monolayer partial substitution edge Mo atoms by isolated Ni rich accessible sites high sulfurization degree. All virtues endow it edge-active sites, consequently, enhanced performance for hydrodesulfurization dibenzothiophene (DBT). The proceeds via a more-favorable direct desulfurization (DDS) route reaction rate constant (kHDS) 48.6 × 10−7 mol·g−1·s−1 over Ni-Mo-S/rGO-A catalyst, which 4.3 times greater than traditional Ni-Mo-S/Al2O3 at forefront reported catalysts.