Hydrodesulfurization of Thiophene over Ni-Doped MoS2-Supported Mesoporous Silica

Abstract

The growing demand for ultra-low sulfur fuels requires the development of advanced hydrodesulfurization catalysts with enhanced activity and selectivity. In this work, we present a one-pot synthesis of mesoporous SBA-15-supported MoS2 (SBA-15@MoS2) and Ni-doped MoS2 (SBA-15@Ni-MoS2) catalysts for the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of thiophene. Structural and spectroscopic characterization confirmed the formation of few-layered MoS2 nanosheets and the successful incorporation of Ni, which modifies the electronic environment and surface acidity of the active sites. CO-IR spectroscopy revealed a higher density and diversity of catalytically relevant edge sites, particularly S-edge sites, upon Ni doping. Catalytic performance results demonstrated that the Ni-doped catalyst (SBA-15@Ni-MoS2) significantly outperforms the undoped catalyst (SBA-15@MoS2), doubling the reaction rate and exhibiting greater selectivity toward paraffinic products via the hydrogenation pathway. These findings highlight the synergistic effect of Ni in enhancing hydrogen activation and promoting the formation of Ni–Mo–S phases, offering a rational approach to the design of HDS catalysts.