Promotion of the metal–oxide support interaction in the Ni/TiO 2 catalyst. Crucial role of the method of preparation, the structure of TiO 2 and the NiTiO 3 intermediate

Based on in situ X-ray diffraction and EXAFS studies, it is shown that NiTiO3 formed by the reaction of TiO2(anatase) with Ni2+ during the calcination of Ni/TiO2, gives rise to Ni metal and TiO2(rutile) on reduction, a process that may be responsible for the strong interaction between the metal and the oxide support.