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Facile Preparation of Ni 2 P with a Sulfur‐Containing Surface Layer by Low‐Temperature Reduction of Ni 2 P 2 S 6
Author(s) -
Tian Song,
Li Xiang,
Wang Anjie,
Prins Roel,
Chen Yongying,
Hu Yongkang
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201510599
Subject(s) - hydrodesulfurization , nickel , sulfur , catalysis , crystallite , temperature programmed reduction , metal , materials science , chemistry , layer (electronics) , inorganic chemistry , crystallography , metallurgy , nanotechnology , organic chemistry
Preparation of Ni 2 P by temperature‐programmed reduction (TPR) of a phosphate precursor is challenging because the P−O bond is strong. An alternative approach to synthesizing Ni 2 P, by reduction of nickel hexathiodiphosphate (Ni 2 P 2 S 6 ), is presented. Conversion of Ni 2 P 2 S 6 into Ni 2 P occurs at 200–220 °C, a temperature much lower than that required by the conventional TPR method (typically 500 °C). A sulfur‐containing layer with a thickness of about 4.7 nm, composed of tiny crystallites, was observed at the surface of the obtained Ni 2 P catalyst (Ni 2 P−S). This is a direct observation of the sulfur‐containing layer of Ni 2 P, or the so‐called nickel phosphosulfide phase. Both the hydrodesulfurization activity and the selective hydrogenation performance of Ni 2 P‐S were superior to that of the catalyst prepared by the TPR method, suggesting a positive role of sulfur on the surface of Ni 2 P‐S. These features render Ni 2 P‐S a legitimate alternative non‐precious metal catalyst for hydrogenation reactions.