Behavior of Palladium–Copper Catalysts for CO and NO Elimination

The behavior of a series of palladium and palladium–copper catalysts supported on ceria/alumina for the CO+NO+O2 reaction has been analyzed by a combination of electron transmission microscopy, infrared, and electron paramagnetic spectroscopies and catalytic test studies. In both systems, the catalytic behavior is dominated by the properties of the metal–ceria interface. The addition of copper to a palladium system leads to beneficial effects related to alloy formation in which both CO and NO elimination are enhanced. The chemical consequences and catalytic implications of Pd-Cu alloying are discussed.