The behavior of a series of palladium and palladium-copper catalysts suppor
ted on ceria/alumina for the CO + NO + O-2 reaction has been analyzed by a
combination of electron transmission microscopy, infrared, and electron par
amagnetic spectroscopies and catalytic test studies. In both systems, the c
atalytic behavior is dominated by the properties of the metal-ceria interfa
ce. The addition of copper to a palladium system leads to beneficial effect
s related to alloy formation in which both CO and NO elimination are enhanc
ed. The chemical consequences and catalytic implications of Pd-Cu alloying
are discussed. (C) 2000 Academic Press.