Ultrafine molybdenum sulfide (MoS
2) particles were prepared with a media agitating mill. In the milling, n-decane was used as a grinding solvent in which oleic acid was added. Natural and synthesized Aldrich MoS
2 particles were used. The median diameters of both particles became about 40nm after milling for 50 hours. After the milling, both particles held crystalline structures, though the peak profiles measured by XRD broadened.
The catalytic activity of the prepared MoS
2 particles was investigated with the hydrogenation reaction of 1-methyl-naphthalene (1-MN). The mechanically milled MoS
2 particles had a much higher conversion of 1-MN per weight of catalyst than that of either starting natural or synthesized MoS
2 particles. On the other hand, the conversion of 1-MN per surface area of catalyst depended on the kind of MoS
2 particles used in the reaction. The conversion of 1-MN per specific surface area by milled synthesized Aldrich MoS
2 was higher than that of starting particles, while the conversion by milled natural MoS
2 was lower. The reason for the difference might be attributed to the different edge structure of the MoS
2.
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