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.