Stereolithography 3D printed monolithic catalyst for highly efficient oxidative desulfurization of fuels

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) printing has recently been introduced into the construction of catalysts with integral structures, but its use has been limited due to material and structural constraints. In this work, the liquid crystal display 3D printing technology is employed to prepare 3D printed monolithic catalysts with high structural complexity for oxidative desulfurization of fuels. The catalytic active sites of the materials are in-situ introduced during the synthesis process through a facile ball milling-3D print-sintering process. Through a variety of characterization methods, molybdenum oxide has been proved to be uniformly loaded on the composite support with great mechanical properties and dimensional stability. This monolithic catalyst possesses excellent catalytic performance in the oxidation of dibenzothiophene, reaching 98.6% sulfur removal. Moreover, the catalyst shows excellent thermal and chemical stability, with no obvious decrease in desulfurization activity after 6 recycles. This low-cost and facile strategy may provide a new path for 3D printed structured catalysts and other functional materials with tailored properties in various catalytic applications, overcoming the structural limitations associated with traditional processing methods.