High performance catalysts prepared by using unique surface properties of intermetallic compounds.

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16H04565
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Catalyst/Resource chemical process
• Research Institution: Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: Komatsu Takayuki 東京工業大学, 理学院, 教授 (40186797)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: 金属間化合物 / 合金 / 触媒 / 水素化 / 選択性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Intermetallic compound is classified as a specific group of alloys. The usual alloy consists of a solid solution between two metal elements, where two element atoms are located in a random way. Intermetallic compounds, however, have high regularity in atomic arrangement because they consist of crystal. Such compounds have unique surface structure, which is not found in the usual alloys. We prepared the particles of intermetallic compounds consisting of single-phase nano-size compound and tested them for hydrogenation, isomerization, dehydrogenation, selective oxidation, and so on. Some intermetallic compounds have been found to be more active, selective, and durable than usual solid solution alloys for these reactions. We concluded that unique surface structures given by regularly arraigned two element atoms are the main cause for the high catalytic performance of the intermetallic compounds.

Free Research Field

触媒化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

金属触媒の性能向上のため、第２金属を添加する方法は以前から広く行われてきたが、そのほとんどがランダムな原子配列をとる固溶体合金に関するものであった。我々は規則的原子配列を持つ、すなわち結晶構造を持つ合金である金属間化合物に着目し、その金属表面の特異な原子配列が生起するユニークな触媒作用を解明することに成功した。これにより数百種類以上ある金属間化合物が新規な金属触媒としての大きな可能性を持つことを、触媒研究者に広く知らしめた。