Characterization and catalytic performance of {Mo2O2S2}-based oxothiomolybdenum cyclic clusters supported on mesoporous SBA-15

• [Mo2O2S2]-based wheels are successfully supported on SBA-15 for the first time.
• The supported catalysts contain high surface area and high porous volume.
• Thiophene hydrodesulfurization performance of these catalysts is investigated.
• The supported catalysts have an excellent thiophene desulfurization catalytic activity.

Cyclic polyoxothiomolybdate clusters containing {Mo2O2S2} building unit supported on SBA-15 have been prepared by immersion SBA-15 in the corresponding cluster's solution. The measurements of low angle X-ray diffraction (LXRD), nitrogen adsorption, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy indicated that the cyclic clusters were successfully loaded on SBA-15. The supported catalysts were tested in thiophene hydrodesulfurization at different temperatures, respectively. Results show that the supported catalysts have an excellent desulfurization catalytic performance for thiophene.