Microspherical ReS2 as a High-Performance Hydrodesulfurization Catalyst

• Published in: Catalysis letters Vol. 147; no. 5; pp. 1243 - 1251
• Main Authors: Aliaga, J. A., Zepeda, T. N., Pawelec, B. N., Araya, J. F., Antúnez-García, J., Farías, M. H., Fuentes, S., Galván, D., Alonso-Núñez, G., González, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-05-2017; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Catalysis; Catalysts; Catalytic activity; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Energy dispersive X ray spectroscopy; Fuel oils; High resolution electron microscopy; Hydrodesulfurization; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Microscopy; Microspheres; Morphology; Organometallic Chemistry; Photoelectrons; Physical Chemistry; Rhenium; Scanning electron microscopy; Self-assembly; Spectrum analysis; Structural hierarchy; X-ray diffraction; Heterogeneous catalysis; Rhenium disulfide; Hidrodesulfurization; Solvothermal synthesis
• ISSN: 1011-372X; 1572-879X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10562-017-2024-6

An unsupported microspherical ReS
2
catalyst, consisting in self-assembled nano-layers, was evaluated in the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of 3-methylthiophene showing an excellent catalytic activity. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, high resolution electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. These techniques revealed that the rhenium disulfide layers are confined to a 3D hierarchical structure with different stacking, slab size and bending, according to the annealing temperature (400 or 800 °C). The presence of a defect-rich structure in the microspheres, with short and randomly-orientated ReS
2
slabs, results in the exposure of additional edge sites, which improve the catalytic performance of this material. This microspherical ReS
2
composite, with good HDS performance, is a promising catalyst for the desulfurization of fuel oils; the solvothermal reaction conditions are also useful to tune and create exotic morphologies for the design of new ReS
2
catalysts.
Graphical Abstract