We have studied the activity and selectivity of Pd/gamma-Al2O3, VOx/gamma-A
l2O3 and Pd-VOx/gamma-Al2O3 catalysts for the decomposition of NO and the r
eduction of NO with CO. Pd-VOx/gamma-Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by ancho
ring Pd(AcAc)(2) on VOx/gamma-Al2O3. Characterization of the binary samples
by hydrogen chemisorption and TPR measurements indicated that the reductio
n of VOx is enhanced by a close contact with palladium and that partially r
educed vanadia decorate noble metal particles. This palladium-vanadium inte
raction alters the catalytic properties of palladium: the activity for NO d
ecomposition is higher for the binary sample and, for the NO-CO reaction, b
oth the activity and the selectivity to N-2 increase when vanadium is in co
ntact with palladium. (C)2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.