ON CORRELATION BETWEEN SURFACE STRUCTURE AND CATALYTIC ACTIVITY OF AMORPHOUS ALLOYS

The present paper is a review summarizing our results gained in the field of catalysis over amorphous alloys. The route leading to the formation of the catalytically active phase is presented and the factors which may play a decisive role in this process is discussed. Following the surface characterization of amorphous alloys led to the constructions of a surface model its modifying effects are described. Their catalytic properties are further influenced by the structure and the morphology. These parameters are crucial to the formation of the active metal ensembles and to the behaviour of reactants over the surface. These factors are discussed in detail for the utilization of amorphous alloys, primarily as catalyst precursors