Evidence of a strong metal-support interaction in zirconia-supported nickel catalysts

The reduction of Ni/ZrO₂ catalysts above 700 K results in a decrease of hydrogen adsorption and of the catalytic activity toward ethane hydrogenolysis. O₂ treatments followed by reduction at low temperature of samples reduced at high temperatures restore the normal properties. This behavior is similar to that observed for Ni/SiO₂, Ni/TiO₂ and is characteristic of a strong metal-support interaction similar to that observed on Pt/TiO₂ catalysts. Paradoxically, it is shown that Ni does not interact strongly with ZrO₂ since it is easily reduced and its reduction gives very large metallic particles.

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Ni/ZrO₂ 700 . , , . Ni/SiO₂ Ni/TiO₂ , Pt/TiO₂. , Ni ZrO₂, .. .