Design of an intercalated Nano-MoS₂ hydrophobic catalyst with high rim sites to improve the hydrogenation selectivity in hydrodesulfurization reaction

The preparation of the intercalated lamellar hydrophobic nano-MoS( )2 (size: 60-100 nm, interlayer spacing: 0.7-1.2 nm) through the substitution of organic amine for inorganic ammonium salt and the subsequent catalytic reaction as a hydrodesulfurization catalyst is presented. The intercalated amine groups broadened the interspacing of the lamellar nano-MoS2 and promoted the formation of hydrophobic stacking structure consisting of stable monolayers. The high hydrophobicity of the nano-MoS2 monolayer catalyst was confirmed. The assynthesized intercalated hydrophobic nano-MoS2 catalyst with lower steric hindrance and higher number of rim sites showed better hydrodesulfurization performance and higher hydrogenation mute selectivity than the traditional MoS2 catalyst. The conversion of dibenzothiophene using the intercalated hydrophobic nano-MoS2 catalyst was 86 % in comparison to 23 % for the traditional MoS2 catalyst. The intercalated hydrophobic nano-MoS2 catalyst was stable in five subsequent catalytic cycles.