In situ characterization of transition metal sulfide catalysts by IR probe molecules adsorption and model reactions

This work reports a detailed characterization of reduced states of RuS2/SiO2 catalyst by combining catalytic activity measurements and IR probe molecule adsorption. Depending on the solid composition monitored by a progressive reduction these surfaces gradually moves from an acid-base character to a metallic one. Both Lewis and Brønsted acidic sites are created in mild reduction conditions and the Lewis acidic sites play an important role in the activation of sulfur containing molecules and subsequently on their transformations. The hydrogenation properties are related to Ru sites with a low sulfur coordination.