Electronic structure of leached Al–Cu–Fe quasicrystals used as catalysts

Abstract

We used X-ray emission spectroscopy to investigate the electronic structure of various catalysts obtained by leaching a quasicrystalline Al–Cu–Fe compound in 5% Na2CO3 aqueous solution. The study of Al states confirmed that Al is almost totally oxidized in the catalysts. Fe is not as much oxidized probably because it is embedded in Cu–Al2O3 grains. Cu is only partly oxidized. However, it is not excluded that the catalytic activity could be due to a size effect that prevents the formation of a band as in metallic Cu, and gives to the electronic structure an atomic-like character. New measurements should be done from fresh specimens in order avoid further oxidation interference with the Cu spectral distributions.