Highly active quasicrystalline Al-Cu-Fe catalyst for steam reforming of methanol Original Research Article

Steam reforming of methanol (CH3OH+H2O→3H2+CO2) has been performed on a stable AlCuFe quasicrystal for the first time. The AlCuFe quasicrystal reveals excellent activity, after leaching treatment. The production rate of H2 reaches 235 l/kg min at 573 K for steam reforming of methanol. The activity is due to Cu nanoparticles at the surfaces of quasicrystalline grains which are generated by the leaching treatment. The quasicrystals have two advantages: one is their brittle nature, which allows them to be crushed efficiently; the other is the involvement of Fe, which suppresses the sintering of Cu particles.