Hydrogen and Oxygen Chemisorptions and Titrations by Platinum on Zirconia Catalysts Reduced between 673 and 1273 K

Abstract

Some 10 wt % Pt supported on zirconia catalysts were investigated by hydrogen and oxygen chemisorptions and titrations by means of automated catharometric equipment (frontal method). Microcalorimetry was further used to determine the heats of oxygen chemisorption. The temperature of reduction by hydrogen, TR, was varied between 673 and 1273 K. At 673 K, the H and O coverages of Pt were about the same as for Pt supported on SiO2 (Euro Pt catalyst). The increase in TR from 673 to 873 K was accompanied by a strong decrease of the hydrogen to oxygen chemisorption ratio. It is proposed that this is due to Pt1– xZr x alloy formation, with small values of x (≤0·05). When TR was above 873 K, x determined by X-ray diffraction analysis increased up to 0·25. The hydrogen chemisorption is confined to Pt s, while the oxygen chemisorption takes place on Pt s and Zr sO x. The surface composition may be derived and is found twice as rich in Zr as the mean composition of the alloy particles.