Al–Cu–Fe quasicrystals for steam reforming of methanol: a new form of copper catalysts

Alloy catalysts were prepared by leaching various structures of Al–Cu–(Fe) alloys (quasicrystal (QC), beta- or theta-phase) in NaOH and Na2CO3 aqueous solutions. Comparison of the catalytic properties for steam reforming of methanol (SRM) on different Al–Cu–(Fe) alloy phases (quasicrystalline versus crystalline phase) was made. At high temperatures (e.g., 360 °C), the catalytic activity of the QC catalyst (5% Na2CO3-leached) for the SRM was much higher than that of other phase catalysts. No sintering of highly dispersed copper particles on QC catalyst was observed by XRD measurements even after the SRM reaction at 360 °C. We propose that the high catalytic activity and the excellent thermal stability of copper particles on QC catalyst are due to the immiscibility of Fe with Cu and the interaction with QC surface.