Novel nanostructred Pd–Zr oxides

Novel nanostructured Pd–Zr oxides have been synthesized using chemical processing. The composition and structure have been investigated using X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. The phase stability, thermal behavior and catalytic property under methane atmosphere have been examined by using thermogravimetric analysis, in situ gas environment high temperature X-ray diffraction and gas mass spectroscopy. The study indicated that the alloying of Zr improves the thermal stability and modifies the hysteresis characteristic of the phase transition between Pd–Zr metal and oxide during the thermal cycling.