The　hydrogenation　of　unsaturated　bonds　and　elimination　of　sulfur　impurities　in　C9　petroleum　resin　(C9PR)　are　crucial　for　improving　its　quality　and　performance.　In　this　study,　we　prepared　a　nanoflower-like　Ni2P/Al2O3　catalyst　using　an　in-situ　synthesis　combined　with　liquid-phase　phosphidation　strategy　and　applied　for　the　production　of　value-added　hydrogenated　C9PR.　In-situ　synthesis　of　Ni-Al　hydrotalcite　anchors　and　disperses　Ni　nanoparticles,　while　liquid-phase　phosphidation　introduces　high-content　Niδ+　and　Pδ−　active　sites　and　prevents　the　formation　of　inactive　AlPO4,　synergistically　enhancing　both　hydrogenation　and　desulfurization　activities.　The　synthesized　Ni2P/Al2O3　catalyst　achieves　a　99.6　%　hydrogenation　degree　and　reduces　sulfur　content　from　137　ppm　to　0　ppm,　much　better　than　the　catalysts　prepared　by　conventional　impregnation　and　metal　phosphate　reduction　methods.　These　results　give　valuable　insights　for　designing　efficient　catalysts　and　advancing　single-step　hydrorefining　processes　to　generate　high-quality,　value-added　hydrogenated　petroleum　resins.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd