MOF template, MOF-derived Ni, and MOF-derived Ni2P were characterized by XRD, TG, SEM, TEM, XPS and Raman. Hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of dibenzothiophene of MOF-derived Ni2P suggests that its catalytic performance depends on the active center number of Ni2P (111), the size of Ni2P clusters, the phosphiding degree of Ni and the intervals between Ni2P clusters. Reducing the pyrolyzing temperature of MOF template can slow down particle aggregation and change the morphology of Ni and Ni2P from closely packed polyhedron to loosely packed petal-like. At the same time, the cluster size of Ni2P was significantly reduced, resulting in a higher HDS activity. Prolonging pyrolyzing time at low pyrolyzing temperature leads to the gradual removal of MOF framework and makes nickel aggregates more susceptible to phosphiding. This increases the ratio of Ni2P to Ni of the phosphidized material, resulting in higher HDS activity of MOF-derived Ni2P. In situ phosphiding of crystalline nickel with PH3 did not change the shape of aggregates, but change the surface morphology of MOF derivied Ni. Low-temperature phosphiding can generally form pure Ni2P species, while high-temperature phosphiding will form a variety of impurities including Ni5P4. This will lead to a decrease in HDS reaction performance of MOF-derived Ni2P catalyst.