Oil-soluble Ni-Mo sulfide nanoparticles and their hydrogenation catalytic properties

Oil-soluble bimetallic Ni-Mo sulfide nanoparticles (NiMoS) with narrow size distribution were successfully synthesized through a composite-surfactants-assisted-solvothermal process. The surface functionality and lipophilicity of the Ni-Mo sulfides were shown by transmission electronic microscopy, Fourier transform infrared and ultraviolet spectroscopy. The as-prepared Ni-Mo sulfides supported on activated carbon (NiMoS/AC) exhibited enhanced catalytic activity towards naphthalene hydrogenation instead of cracking. For comparison, CoMoS/AC and MoS₂/AC catalysts were also prepared through similar procedures, and it was found that their catalytic performance decreased in the order of NiMoS/AC>CoMoS/AC>MoS₂/AC. Furthermore, the activity of the bimetallic NiMoS nanocatalyst can be effectively tuned via variation of the atomic ratio of Ni/(Ni+Mo).