Facile synthesis of few-layer and ordered K-promoted MoS2 nanosheets supported on SBA-15 and their potential application for heterogeneous catalysis

Supported MoS 2 based materials are widely used as heterogeneous catalysts. In this work, we propose a rapid and facile method (ultrasound-induced impregnation assisted by microwave thermal treatment) to synthesize mesoporous silica (SBA-15)-supported, few-layer, ordered and K-promoted MoS 2 nanosheets with different K/Mo ratios. The prepared catalysts are characterized by various physical and chemical techniques. Their catalytic performance is evaluated by methyl mercaptan (CH 3 SH) synthesis from CO/H 2 /H 2 S. The results show that our catalysts exhibit a much higher CO conversion and selectivity to CH 3 SH than the catalysts prepared using the conventional impregnation and reported in the literature. The good performance arises because of two main factors: MoS 2 nanosheets of only 2–4 layers and K promotion. Experimental characterizations and (density functional theory) calculations show that the former is the typical nano-size effect, and the latter stabilizes C S bonds when activating COS molecules.