A Facile Synthesis of Highly Efficient MXene Supported CoMoS Catalysts for Hydrodesulfurization

Abstract In this study, ammonium tetrathiomolybdate (ATM) and 2D‐layer MXene support were used to prepare more efficient MoS₂ catalysts with cobalt promoter for the elimination of sulfur atoms in thiophene. A series of well‐dispersed and highly active MoS₂ and Co−Mo−S phase on MXene catalysts were derived by thermal activation of precursors varying promoter cobalt to molybdenum molar ratio up to 0.6. The physicochemical properties of synthesized catalysts were characterized by XRD, TPR, SEM/EDS, XPS, HRTEM, and Raman spectroscopy. The as‐prepared MoS₂/MXene and Co−MoS₂/MXene catalysts were examined for thiophene hydrodesulfurization (HDS) at 300–400 °C. The synergetic effect between Co and few‐layer MoS₂ on MXene, enhanced their HDS activity to ∼ 20.6 mmol g⁻¹ h⁻¹ with an excellent turnover frequency of about 55 h⁻¹ achieved on Co−MoS₂/MXene catalysts, which were 8‐fold higher than the conventional CoMoS/alumina catalyst. Co−MoS₂/MXene catalysts produce high butenes selectivity ∼73% at low temperature, whereas, at high‐temperature alkane levels were increased ∼42% in CoMoS phase through hydrogen activation. Hence, the few‐layer MoS₂ obtained from ATM and promoter Co intercalated MXene catalysts enhances the rate of C−S bond cleavage in HDS, and the result is scrubbing a large volume of sulfur atoms in clean fuel processes.