Pt/SO4/ZrO2 and Pt/ZrO2 systems were studied by diffuse-reflectance IR
spectroscopy. Sulfate additives were shown to change the electronic s
tate of Pt supported on ZrO2. This interaction results presumably in t
he formation of Ptdelta+ species that arise due to the influence of de
localized protons at the surface of SO4/ZrO2. An increase in the surfa
ce concentration of the metal leads to a weakening of the interaction
with protons, and coexistence of Ptdelta+ and Pt-0 species becomes pos
sible. Platinum in the systems modified with SO42- anions exhibits enh
anced resistance to reduction.