This paper presents the characteristic features of the catalytic properties of the cold-rolled Ni3Al foils for methanol decomposition which were developed in our group. Methanol was effectively decomposed into H2 and CO over the foils above 713 K. The production rates of H2 and CO increased with an increase of time during the initial period of reaction, indicating that the Ni3Al foils were spontaneously activated under the reaction conditions. Surface analyses revealed that fine Ni particles dispersed on carbon nanofibers formed on the foils during the reaction. The high catalytic performance of the foils can be attributed to the spontaneous formation of this nanostructure during the reaction.
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