Phase Transformation-Tailored In-Plane Sulfur Vacancies in MoS₂ for Enhanced Hydrodeoxygenation Performance

MoS2-based catalysts can effectively achieve the hydrodeoxygenation of lipids or fatty acids into biojet fuel, alleviating the energy crisis and environmental problems. Nevertheless, the active sites of MoS2 are predominantly concentrated at the edges or rims, while the more extensive inert plane is deficient in effective catalytic sites. In this study, based on a phase transformation strategy, sulfur atoms in the inert plane are activated through annealing 1T MoS2, generating 2H MoS2 with abundant in-plane sulfur vacancies. Specifically, MoS2(U)-400 achieves 100% conversion of palmitic acid and over 99% hexadecane yield at 2 MPa H2 and 260 °C. This phase transformation-induced active site construction strategy provides a simple and effective catalyst for the hydrodeoxygenation of lipids and fatty acids.