Catalytic Properties of Ni₃Al Intermetallics for Methanol Decomposition

Abstract

Ni₃Al is known as promising high-temperature structural materials because of its excellent high temperature strength and corrosion/oxidation resistance. Recently, we found that Ni₃Al shows high activity for methanol decomposition (CH₃OH → 2H₂ + CO), and little effect for steam reforming of methanol (CH₃OH + H₂O → 3H₂ + CO₂) in the case of feeding methanol and water. In the present study, we examined the catalytic activity of Ni₃Al powders by feeding pure methanol at a reaction temperature range from 523 to 633 K. It was found that Ni₃Al shows not only a high activity for the methanol decomposition but also suppresses the methanation. The catalytic properties of Ni₃Al were compared to that in the case of feeding both methanol and water.