HREM characterization of lanthana-supported rhodium catalysts

Abstract

Metals supported on rare earth sesquioxides present a non- conventional behavior. Ordinary H2 and-or CO chemisorption techniques cannot be straightforwardly used to characterize this group of catalysts. The assessement to the data of metallic dispersions and the establishment of the occurrence and extent of metal-support interaction phenomena are determinant in order to interpret the properties of these catalysts in hydrogenation reactions. In this work HREM is proposed as a powerfull technique for the study of lanthana supported rhodium catalysts. Such catalysts would be considered as representative of a series of metals supported on rare earth sesquioxides.