The elucidation of a molecular structure of the active sites (i.e., the Co−Mo−S phase) of Co−Mo
hydrodesulfurization catalysts has received extensive attention. In the present study, we unambiguously
determined, for the first time, the NO adsorption behavior and magnetic property of the Co−Mo−S phase by
preparing unique Co−Mo/Al2O3 catalysts (CVD−Co/MoS2/Al2O3), in which all the Co atoms are present as
the Co−Mo−S phase. The catalysts were characterized by NO adsorption (pulse technique and FTIR), Co
K-edge XANES, and the magnetic susceptibility and effective magnetic moment of Co. Nitric oxide molecules
were adsorbed on 33% of the Co atoms in CVD−Co/MoS2/Al2O3 after sulfidation and on only half of the Co
atoms even after an H2-treatment of the sulfided catalyst at 573−673 K. The Co atoms in CVD−Co/MoS2/Al2O3 exclusively exhibited an antiferromagnetic property, indicating that even-numbered Co atoms are
interacting with each other in the Co−Mo−S phase. A Co−Mo/Al2O3 catalyst, prepared by a conventional
impregnation technique, was composed of the antiferromagnetic Co sulfide species as observed in CVD−Co/MoS2/Al2O3 in addition to Co9S8. On the basis of the NO adsorption behavior and magnetic property, it
is empirically proposed that the structure of the Co−Mo−S phase is represented as a Co sulfide dinuclear
cluster located on the edge of MoS2 particles. The magnetic property of Co/Al2O3 sulfide catalysts depended
on the preparation method.