Controllable Fabrication of Tungsten Oxide Nanoparticles Confined in Graphene-Analogous Boron Nitride as an Efficient Desulfurization Catalyst

Tungsten oxide nanoparticles (WO(x)NPs) are gaining increasing attention, but low stabiliity and poor dispersion of WO(x)NPs hinder their catalytic applications. Herein, WO(x)NPs were confined in graphene-analogous boron nitride (g-BN) by a one-step, in situ method at high temperature, which can enhance the interactions between WO(x)NPs and the support and control the sizes of WO(x)NPs in a range of about 4-5nm. The as-prepared catalysts were applied in catalytic oxidation of aromatic sulfur compounds in which they showed high catalytic activity. A balance between the W loading and the size distribution of the WO(x)NPs could govern the catalytic activity. Furthermore, a synergistic effect between g-BN and WO(x)NPs also contributed to high catalytic activity. The reaction mechanism is discussed in detail and the catalytic scope was enlarged.