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.