Layered nanocomposites based on molybdenum disulfide and hydroxy-Al, Cr and CrAl oligocations: Characterization and catalytic activity in benzene hydrogenation to cyclohexane

Layered nanocomposites were prepared utilizing the exfoliation and restacking properties of LixMoS2 under mild conditions and characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry and BET surface measurements. The intercalated hydroxy-Al, Cr and mixed CrAl oligocations made the MoS2 host have interlayer expansions of 5.86–8.86 Å. The less steric hindrance and the elevated ratio of rim to edge sites make the as-prepared molybdenum disulfide composites have good catalytic activity in the benzene hydrogenation into cyclohexane. It has been shown that a material with good crystallinity exhibits good durability in the reaction.

Graphical abstractA series of layered nanocomposites are constructed from MoS2 layers and hydroxy-Al, Cr and mixed CrAl oligocations with the interlayer expansions of 5.86–8.86 Å. The composites with good crystallinity exhibit good catalytic activity and durability in the hydrogenation reaction of benzene into cyclohexane. Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide