XAS study of Ni2P/MCM-41 prepared by hydrogen plasma reduction

► XAS study of Ni2P/MCM-41 prepared by hydrogen plasma reduction (PR) and TPR. ► Ni2P with perfect crystal structure was obtained by the PR method (Ni2P-PR). ► Extra P was found in the lattice of Ni2P prepared by the TPR method (Ni2P-TPR). ► Ni in Ni2P-TPR was more electron-deficient than that in Ni2P-PR. ► Ni2P-TPR showed higher hydrogenation selectivity than Ni2P-PR.