Nickel Phosphide Nanoparticles for Selective Hydrogenation of SO2 to H2S

Highly mesoporous SiO2-encapsulated NixPy crystals, where (x, y) = (5, 4), (2, 1), and (12, 5), were successfully synthesized by adopting a thermolytic method using oleylamine (OAm), trioctylphosphine (TOP), and trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO). The Ni5P4@SiO2 system shows the highest reported activity for the selective hydrogenation of SO2 toward H2S at 320 degrees C (96% conversion of SO2 and 99% selectivity to H2S), which was superior to the activity of the commercial CoMoS@Al2O3 catalyst (64% conversion of SO2 and 71% selectivity to H2S at 320 degrees C). The morphology of the Ni5P4 crystal was finely tuned via adjustment of the synthesis parameters receiving a wide spectrum of morphologies (hollow, macroporous-network, and SiO2-confined ultrafine clusters). Intrinsic characteristics of the materials were studied by Xray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy/scanning transmission electron microscopy-high-angle annular dark-field imaging, energydispersive X-ray spectroscopy, the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller method, H-2 temperature-programmed reduction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and experimental and calculated P-31 magic-angle spinning solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance toward establishing the structure-performance correlation for the reaction of interest. Characterization of the catalysts after the SO2 hydrogenation reaction proved the preservation of the morphology, crystallinity, and Ni/P ratio for all the catalysts.