Solution synthesis of core-shell Co9S8@MoS2 catalystsElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c6cy00311g

• Main Authors: Hadj-Aïssa, A, Dassenoy, F, Geantet, C, Afanasiev, P
• Format: Journal Article
• Published: 28.06.2016
• ISSN: 2044-4753; 2044-4761
• DOI: 10.1039/c6cy00311g

Core-shell Co 9 S 8 @MoS 2 unsupported catalysts have been prepared by a solution reaction in ethylene glycol. First, using a cobalt sulfide seed, amorphous core-shell CoS@MoS x ( x = 3-4) was prepared. Then, after thermal treatment, 20-50 nm-sized particles were obtained, in which MoS 2 was crystallized at the exterior of the Co 9 S 8 core. The solids show high catalytic activity in hydrodesulphurization, with an exceptionally high thermal stability. Thus, the high catalytic activity was preserved even after thermal treatment at 750 °C. A symmetric synergy model has been proposed with the catalytic sites located at the interface between the cobalt sulfide crystallites and the stacks of MoS 2 slabs. Core-shell Co 9 S 8 @MoS 2 unsupported catalysts prepared by a solution reaction in ethylene glycol demonstrate high catalytic activity and exceptional thermal stability.