Pd-based (Ce,Zr)Ox-supported catalysts: Promoting effect of base metals (Cr, Cu, Ni) in CO and NO elimination

A series of Pd–M bimetallic three-way catalysts (M = Cr, Cu and Ni) supported on a (Ce,Zr)Ox material has been characterized using a combination of X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy, and employing in situ diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared and X-ray near-edge structure spectroscopies to analyse the redox and chemical processes taking place during light-off conditions under CO, NO and O2. The catalytic behaviour of these bimetallic systems was strongly affected by the degree of interaction between the noble and base metals in the calcined state. Among the base metals tested, Ni appeared to exert the least influence over the noble metal state/behaviour after calcination and under reaction conditions. Cr and Cu appear to interact with Pd in the calcined state, leading to a reduction in the temperature at which Pd was converted to Pd(0) with simultaneous formation of a binary PdM alloy during the reaction run. At high temperature, these alloy phases evolved into pure metallic Pd(0) particles and, in the case of the Cu-containing catalyst, result in a strong interaction with the support. The catalytic performance of these three Pd–M systems in the CO and NO elimination reactions are correlated with the nature and properties of the oxidized and reduced Pd-containing phases which are present in each case.