Constructing In-Plane CoS-MoS2 Heterostructures for Efficient Hydrodeoxygenation

Selective hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) is one of the most effective ways to convert renewable biomass to high-value chemicals and fuels. Co-doped MoS2 exhibited high selectivity of C–O bond cleavage, but its activity should be simultaneously improved for efficient aromatics production. In this work, CoS-MoS2 nanoflowers with in-plane heterostructures are synthesized by a one-pot solvothermal method using lactic acid as an organic regulator for efficient and selective hydrodeoxygenation. A series of characterization methods illustrate that the introduction of lactic acid promotes the dispersion of CoS phase on MoS2 and formation of active CoS-MoS2 heterostructures. The results of H2-TPD and H2-TPR show that the as-prepared catalyst exhibits enhanced hydrogen adsorption and dissociation capabilities. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations demonstrate that the heterointerface between CoS and MoS2 effectively facilitates hydrogen activation, thereby improving the catalytic performance of hydrogenation. In the hydrodeoxygenation of diphenyl ether (DPE) at 300 °C and 4 MPa, CoS-MoS2-LA-1.0 exhibited a DPE conversion of 99.5% and a benzene selectivity of 97.2% in 4 h. Moreover, the catalyst exhibited excellent durability under harsh reaction conditions.