An approach to preparing porous and hollow metal phosphides with higher hydrodesulfurization activity

This paper describes an effective method for the synthesis of metal phosphides. Bulk and supported Ni2P, Cu3P, and CoP were prepared by thermal treatment of metal and the amorphous red phosphorus mixtures. Porous and hollow Ni2P particles were also synthesized successfully using this method. The structural properties of these products are investigated using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), inductively coupled plasma (ICP–AES) and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS). A rational mechanism was proposed for the selective formation of Ni2P particles. In experimental conditions, the Ni2P/SiO2 catalyst exhibits excellent hydrodesulfurization (HDS) activity for dibenzothiophene (DBT).