The present development is a catalyst composition, comprising zinc oxide nanowires having one or more catalytically-active metal particles attached to a surface of the zinc oxide nanowires. The catalytically-active metal particles are comprised of a metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, tungsten, copper, and platinum. The present development further discloses a method to prepare the catalyst composition, and use of the catalyst composition for desulfurization.