MoS2　catalysts　were　prepared　on　Al2O3,　SiO2　and　TiO2　support.　On　the　oxidic　forms,　Raman　and　UV–vis　characterizations　show　the　strong　Mo-TiO2　interaction　and　the　weak　Mo-SiO2　one　that　leads　to　a　poorer　Mo　dispersion.　MoS2　nanoparticles　were　then　studied　by　TEM　and　adsorption　of　CO　followed　by　infra-red　spectroscopy　which　allows　the　distinction　and　quantification　of　the　two　stable　edges　namely　the　S-　and　M-　edges.　It　appears　that　the　slab　morphology　is　strongly　modified　by　the　support　nature:　thus　the　stronger　the　MoS2-support　interaction　the　higher　the　S-/M-　edge　ratio.　Finally,　MoS2　morphology　impacts　the　catalytic　activity　in　thiophene　HDS:　(1)　an　increase　of　the　S-/M-　edge　ratio　leads　to　the　increase　of　the　TOF　value　for　Mo　sulfided　supported　on　Al2O3　and　SiO2;　(2)　a　specific　behavior　with　high　TOF　value　of　mainly　M-edge　sites　and　strong　hydrogenating　properties　is　underlined　for　Mo/TiO2.　©　2019　Elsevier　B.V.