Promoting the performances of Ru on hierarchical TiO2 nanospheres exposed {0 0 1} facets in benzene semi-hydrogenation by manipulating the metal-support interfaces

•Hierarchical TiO2 spheres exposed different degrees of {0 0 1} facets were prepared.•The acidity and cus Ti5c atoms were tuned by changing solvothermal time.•The TOFs of benzene on the Ru/HATNs catalysts increased with the acidity.•The cyclohexene selectivity was determined by the content of cus Ti5c atoms.•The S0 and yield reached 83% and 51% on the Ru/HATNs-24 catalyst with most cus Ti5c.