Amorphous unsupported Ni-Mo sulfide prepared by one step hydrothermal method for phenol hydrodeoxygenation

► Ni addition affected the chemical and structural characteristics of the MoS2 catalyst. ► The growth of MoS2 crystallized particles was inhibited when Ni was incorporated. ► The maximum synergy was observed at a Ni/(Mo + Ni) molar ratio of 0.3. ► DDO pathway was the main route for MoS2, while Ni-Mo sulfide favored HYD pathway. ► Synergy effect came from an increase in quality rather than number of active sites.