Influence of oxidizing and reducing treatments on the metal–metal interactions and on the activity for nitrate reduction of a Pt-Cu bimetallic catalyst Original Research Article

Bimetallic Pt-Cu/γAl2O3 catalyst has been prepared by controlled deposition of copper onto platinum particles according to a redox reaction between hydrogen, pre-adsorbed on metallic platinum, and Cu2+ ions in water. This catalyst has been submitted to either oxidizing or reducing treatments, at ambient temperature or at 400 °C. The interaction between copper and platinum in the bimetallic catalysts was estimated from temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) profiles, determined after various pre-treatments, and compared to that of a fresh catalyst. It was demonstrated that reducing and oxidizing pre-treatments noticeably affect the interactions between platinum and copper and consequently the catalytic activity for nitrate reduction in water.