Abstract
Intermetallic compounds have attracted research attention in catalysis because of their unique catalytic properties. Recently, a group of intermetallic compounds, referred to as Heusler alloys (X2YZ), has been investigated as new catalysts. In this study, catalytic properties of 14 Heusler alloys with X = Fe, Co, Ni, or Cu; Y = Ti, Mn, or Fe; Z = Al, Si, Ga, Ge, or Sn for the steam reforming of methanol were examined. Co2TiAl and Ni2TiAl alloys exhibited relatively high H2 production rates because of the formation of fine particles via the selective oxidation of Ti. X2MnZ alloys exhibited high CO2 selectivity because of a water-gas shift reaction catalyzed by using MnO that was formed during the reaction. Crystal phases, surface microstructures, and surface compositions of most alloys were changed because of the reaction, and the formation of fine particles possibly assisted in the observation of catalytic activity. Heusler alloys can be beneficial as catalyst precursors by the selection of appropriate elemental sets depending on target reactions.
Highlights
Intermetallic compounds exhibit unique atomic ordered structures and electronic structures, even at the surface, rendering unique catalytic properties
Studies reported that Ni3Al and Ni3(Si,Ti) form Ni fine particles on the surface because of the selective oxidation of Al and Si, respectively, during methanol decomposition, thereby exhibiting high activity.[14−16] Received: June 20, 2019
Fourteen Heusler alloy catalysts were examined for steam reforming of methanol (SRM)
Summary
Intermetallic compounds exhibit unique atomic ordered structures and electronic structures, even at the surface, rendering unique catalytic properties. They are gaining increasing popularity as new catalysts.[1−3] Almost all of the reported intermetallic catalysts are binary systems. Catalysts are prepared by a liquid process in a form of supported nanoparticles, which requires considerable trials and errors to establish preparation conditions for each elemental system. This fact makes it difficult to screen ternary intermetallic compounds, including Heusler alloys, as catalysts
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