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Nano‐ and Microscale Engineering of the Molybdenum Disulfide‐Based Catalysts for Syngas to Ethanol Conversion
Author(s) -
Konarova Muxina,
Tang Fengqiu,
Chen Jiuling,
Wang Geoff,
Rudolph Victor,
Beltramini Jorge
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
chemcatchem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.497
H-Index - 106
eISSN - 1867-3899
pISSN - 1867-3880
DOI - 10.1002/cctc.201402067
Subject(s) - catalysis , sulfide , molybdenum disulfide , selectivity , sulfur , inorganic chemistry , materials science , hydrodesulfurization , molybdenum , inductively coupled plasma , chemistry , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , metallurgy , engineering , plasma , physics , quantum mechanics
Nickel‐promoted MoS 2 , unsupported catalysts and laponite‐supported alcohol synthesis catalysts were synthesised by using microemulsion (ME) and hydrothermal (HT) methods. Highly ordered sulfide slabs, consisting of up to seven layers, were visible in the TEM images of HT‐based NiMoS 2 catalysts. In contrast, disordered sulfide layers were identified in ME‐based NiMoS 2 catalysts. High catalytic activity was observed in ME‐based supported (laponite‐supported NiMoS 2 ) and unsupported catalysts. After the CO hydrogenation reaction, the catalysts were characterised by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry elemental analyses, which detected a significant sulfur loss in ME‐based NiMoS 2 catalysts and minor sulfur loss in HT‐based NiMoS 2 catalysts. In addition to the large surface area (120 m 2 g −1 ), disordered sulfide structure, and exposed active sites, ME‐based NiMoS 2 catalysts demonstrated higher alcohol selectivity (61 mol %) than HT‐based NiMoS 2 catalysts (15 mol %). Correlations between the catalyst morphology, surface active components, and alcohol selectivity are discussed herein.