Single-source approach to amorphous RuS2 materials supported on SBA-15 and their catalytic activity for thiophene hydrodesulfurization

A series of amorphous RuS 2 and SBA-15 supported RuS 2 materials were prepared by solvothermal method using corresponding tris-dialkyldithiocarbamato ruthenium(III) complexes as precursors. The structures of the catalystline precursors Ru(S 2 CNR 2 ) 3 (R = Me, Et, i Pr), unsupported and supported amorphous RuS 2 -R materials as well as nanocrystalline RuS 2 were characterized and analyzed by IR, powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), transmission electron microscope (TEM), N 2 sorption measurement, and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR). Powder X-ray diffraction patterns indicated the transformation of amorphous phase RuS 2 to crystalline RuS 2 with the heating treatment at 400 °C. The catalytic activity of RuS 2 -R/SBA-15 for thiophene hydrodesulfurization (HDS) was also investigated.