Research Cluster for Functional Alloy Catalysts

Design and Devising of Next-Generation Catalysts Using Unique Alloys

Shinya FURUKAWA

Kiyotaka ASAKURA (ICAT, Hokkaido Univ), Junya HASEGAWA (ICAT, Hokkaido University), Satoshi KAMEOKA (IMRAM, Tohoku University), Shuhei OGO (Waseda University), Ning Yan

Alloys have been recognized as effective catalyst materials. However, the general methodology and theory for catalyst design remain under debate and construction. To develop efficient alloy catalysts and establish the corresponding chemistry, it is important to understand the surface structures and electronic states of the alloys in an atomic level. For this purpose, we study the following themes from the viewpoints of catalytic chemistry, metallurgy, surface science, and theoretical chemistry:

• Achieving stereo and regioselective molecular transformations using specific atomic arrangements of ordered alloys.
• Synthesis and application of “intermetallic-sloid solution hybrid alloys” for well-controllable catalyst design.
• Band engineering for devising base metal alloys as alternatives for noble metal catalysts.

 

　　
Figure 1. Hydrogen-mediated stereoselective alkene isomerization using specific surface atomic arrangement of RhSb ordered alloys.