Author:M Yoshimura, AP Tsai

Institute: National Institute of Materials Science, Tsukuba 305-0047, Japan

The application of quasicrystals to a catalyst is an innovative technique that opens up new horizons in the field of catalysis. These unique substances, with incommensurate symmetry and structural complexity, demonstrate amazing physical and chemical properties that can significantly improve the efficiency of catalysts.

The process of applying quasicrystals involves several key steps. First, the catalyst surface must be prepared, ensuring its high purity and structure, which facilitates the adhesion of the quasicrystal material. Then, using deposition methods such as ion fission or sputtering, the quasicrystals are carefully applied to the previously prepared surface.

Arctic reforming of methanol (CHOH+H2O→3H2+CO2) was carried out on a stable AlCuFe quasicrystal. After leaching treatment, the AlCuFe quasicrystal showed excellent activity. The H2 productivity reached 235 L/kg min at 553 K. Quasicrystals offer two main advantages: they are brittle, which facilitates milling, and they have thermal stability, which allows them to be used in high-temperature conditions. Catalysts made from different Al–Cu–Fe alloys were also evaluated, and the Al63Cu25Fe12 alloy was shown to have the highest activity per unit area among them.

Icosahedral quasicrystals, discovered in 1984, exhibit a forbidden five-dimensional diffraction pattern with sharp peaks indicating a long-range order similar to that of crystals. This discovery has stimulated intense research in physics and materials science. Recent studies have demonstrated that quasicrystals can be effective catalysts due to their stability at high temperatures. We analyze the catalytic reaction on a stable Al–Cu–Fe quasicrystal given that it contains a significant amount of copper, making it effective for vapor-phase reforming of methanol.

As the quasicrystals interact with the reagents, the energy barriers change, which leads to acceleration of the reactions. This increases selectivity and increases the yield of target products. Thus, the use of quasicrystals on a catalyst opens up new prospects for the development of highly efficient catalyst systems that promote sustainable development and environmental technologies in the chemical industry.