In-situ fabrication of MoO2/Mo2N heterojunction on N-doped porous carbon for ultra-deep oxidative desulfurization of fuel oils

MoO 2 /Mo 2 N heterojunction anchored on an N-doped porous carbon matrix was successfully developed. • Both heterointerface and strong metal–support interaction modulate Mo electronic states to promote the activation of H 2 O 2 . • Hierarchical pore architecture enables rapid mass transfer. • MoO 2 /Mo 2 N/PNC delivers 100% desulfurization under mild conditions with outstanding reusability. The rational construction of heterojunction catalysts with tailored electronic properties and optimized mass-transfer capability remains a pivotal challenge in oxidative desulfurization (ODS). Herein, we report a MoO 2 /Mo 2 N heterojunction anchored on an N-doped porous carbon matrix (PNC) via a facile one-step pyrolysis method using self-assembled SiO 2 as a template. The intimate heterointerface and robust metal–support interaction synergistically modulate the electronic configuration of Mo sites, promoting H 2 O 2 activation toward reactive oxygen species, while the hierarchical porous architecture ensures efficient reactant diffusion. Benefiting from these synergistic effects, the MoO 2 /Mo 2 N/PNC catalyst achieves complete desulfurization within 15 min under a low O/S molar ratio, substantially outperforming single-phase and bulk counterparts. Moreover, it exhibits broad substrate compatibility (DBT, BT, and 4,6-DMDBT), high tolerance to varying sulfur contents (500–4000 ppm), and excellent recyclability. This work not only offers a high-performance ODS catalyst but also establishes a general heterojunction-on‑carbon strategy for advancing transition-metal-based catalysts in liquid-phase oxidation reactions. Download: Download high-res image (128KB) Download: Download full-size image