10 Wt% metal-loaded Pd/SiO2 catalysts were reduced at temperatures fro
m 380-degrees-C to 600-degrees-C and investigated by X-ray diffraction
(XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and neopentane conversi
on as a catalytic probe. The X-ray diffraction study showed the presen
ce of the Pd3Si orthorhombic phase in a highly reduced Pd/SiO2 sample.
The extent of the Pd-SiO2 interaction positively correlates with the
metal dispersion. An increase in the selectivity for isomerization in
neopentane conversion appears to be a good measure of metal-supported
interactions.