A set of Pt, Ni and a bimetallic Ni50Pt50 catalysts supported on SiO2 of low and high surface area (S = 50 and 200 m(2)/g) with a total metal loading of 2 wt.% was characterized by high-resolution electron microscopy (HREM), conventional transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and computational techniques such as digital processing and image simulation. Special attention was placed to the identification of intermetallic phases in the Ni50Pt50/SiO2 sample. Catalysts were prepared by impregnation and submitted to calcination-reduction activation treatments. For all the set, the increase in support's surface area led to an improvement of the metal dispersion. TEM and HREM images showed significant differences in the shape and crystalline lattice of the Pt and Ni particles in the monometallic samples taken as reference. While in Pt/SiO2 catalyst we identified only reduced Pt particles, in Ni/SiO2 some NiO particles were detected. HREM characterization of the Ni50Pt50 catalysts showed that many particles have defects such as twinning and dislocations. Cubo-octahedral shapes were predominant in the bimetallic catalyst. Crystal lattice and angles measurements were consistent with the identification of NiPt and/or Ni3Pt intermetallic phases. Superlattice structures were also identified and confirmed by image simulation. EDS analysis on a particle by particle basis confirmed that in bimetallic catalysts supported in SiO2 Of low and high surface area, particles were present consisting of Ni-rich, nominal and Pt-rich metal compositions. Pt-only particles were found but no Ni-only particles were detected. Among the possibilities, NiPt and Ni3Pt compositions were identified. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V All rights reserved.