Synthesis of nickel phosphide nano-particles in a eutectic mixture for hydrotreating reactions

Ni(2+) and H(2)PO(2)(-) with a molar ratio of 1/3 were heated at 423 K in a eutectic mixture composed of choline chloride and urea, resulting in the formation of a mesoporous and amorphous material with surface area of about 210 m(2) g(-1). Heat treatment of this material in H(2) at 673 K led to the formation of crystalline Ni(2)P (25%) supported on amorphous and mesoporous Ni(3)(PO(4))(2)-Ni(2)P(2)O(7) (shortened as NiPO) with a surface area of about 130 m(2) g(-1). The NiPO was presumably produced from the reaction of unreduced Ni(2+) with PO(4)(3-) formed from the oxidation of H(2)PO(2)(-) in the eutectic mixture, which might also act as a template for the formation of mesopores in NiPO. The catalyst 25% Ni(2)P/NiPO exhibited a quite high uptake for the adsorption of CO (38 mu mol g(-1)), and thus it is quite active for the hydrodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene, hydrodenitrogenation of quinoline and hydrogenation of tetralin in a model diesel.