The　catalytic　hydrogenation　of　petroleum　resin　(PR)　to　high　value-added　hydrogenated　PR　(HPR)　represents　a　forward-looking　technology　for　upgrading　the　pyrolysis　petroleum　by-product.　Herein,　flower-like　and　pure-phase　supported　nickel　phosphide　catalysts　were　controllably　fabricated　through　a　hydrotalcite　strategy　with　red　phosphorous　as　the　P　source.　The　PR　hydrogenation　activity　of　the　cat-alysts　followed　the　order　of　Ni2P/Al2O3　＞　NiP2/Al2O3　＞　Ni/Al2O3　＞　imp-Ni2P/Al2O3　catalysts　(prepared　by　the　impregnation　method).　Such　enhanced　performance　of　Ni2P/Al2O3　could　be　ascribed　to　small　nickel　phosphide　particle　size　and　rich　active　Nis+　species.　Notably,　the　sulfur　contents　of　PR　were　effectively　reduced　from　55.4　(C5PR)　and　72.3　ppm　(C9PR)　to　3.8　and　7.9　ppm　after　hydrogenation　by　Ni2P/Al2O3.　Meanwhile,　Ni2P/Al2O3　also　exhibited　good　stability　with　the　hydrogenation　degree　of　HC5PR　maintaining　at　94.39　%　after　100　h.　Our　work　provides　a　promising　nickel　phosphide　catalyst　with　outstanding　hydrogenation　activity,　hydrodesulfurization　ability,　and　stability　toward　PR　hydrogenation.　CO　2022　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.