title: Facile Preparation of Ni2P with a Sulfur-Containing Surface Layer by Low-Temperature Reduction of Ni2P2S6.
abstract: Preparation of Ni2P by temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) of a phosphate precursor is challenging because the P-O bond is strong. An alternative approach to synthesizing Ni2P, by reduction of nickel hexathiodiphosphate (Ni2P2S6), is presented. Conversion of Ni2P2S6 into Ni2P 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 Ni2 P catalyst (Ni2P-S). This is a direct observation of the sulfur-containing layer of Ni2P, or the so-called nickel phosphosulfide phase. Both the hydrodesulfurization activity and the selective hydrogenation performance of Ni2P-S were superior to that of the catalyst prepared by the TPR method, suggesting a positive role of sulfur on the surface of Ni2P-S. These features render Ni2P-S a legitimate alternative non-precious metal catalyst for hydrogenation reactions.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, No. 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, No. 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024, P.R. China. lixiang@dlut.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, No. 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Anjie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institut für Chemie- und Bio-Ingenieurwissenschaften, ETH Zürich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5/10, 8093, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Roel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prins
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, No. 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yongying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, No. 2 Linggong Road, Dalian, 116024, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yongkang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
keywords: hydrodesulfurization; nickel phosphides; selective hydrogenation; sulfur-containing layer