Relationship between the structure and catalytic performance of MoS2 with different surfactant-assisted syntheses in the hydrodesulfurization reaction of 4,6-DMDBT

Surfactants are important factors in the hydrothermal synthesis of MoS2 with different morphologies. Herein, we report the synthesis of MoS(2)via the hydrothermal method combined with a single-source precursor with the assistance of different surfactants (CTAB/SDS/SDBS). The synthesis mechanisms of MoS2 with different morphologies and their effects on 4,6-DMDBT in hydrodesulfurization (HDS) have been systematically studied. MoS2-CTAB was prepared by the adsorption of molybdate radicals, nucleation and formation. MoS2-SDS and MoS2-SDBS were synthesized via four steps, namely, adsorption, insertion, exfoliation and assembly, and the relationship between the morphology-structure-performance of MoS2 in the hydrodesulfurization of 4,6-DMDBT was investigated. It was established that the desulfurization rate of MoS2, HYD ratio and selectivity of the MoS2 increased in the order: MoS2-SDBS > MoS2-CTAB > MoS2-SDS, which exhibited a positive correlation with the average number of layers and dispersion, and a negative correlation with the average slab length and the ratio of the Mo edge/corner sites of MoS2. Among all the MoS2, MoS2-SDBS exhibited the best HDS performance.