Copper-based amorphous alloys

Passivity of aluminum-based amorphous alloys and stainless steels and the catalytic activity of copper-based amorphous alloys... 

Copper-based amorphous alloys also proved to be active in the oxidation of formaldehyde (108,109). As it was reported earlier in connection with the hydrogen evolution reaction (62) (see Section III,A,1), HF treatment leads to the formation of a copper-rich porous surface layer. As a result, electrodes with very high electrocatalytic activity for anodic formaldehyde oxidation could be prepared. It was found that the rate-determining step is a one-electron transfer and the oxidation proceeds via the hydroxymethanolate ion HOCH2O". However, it is not clear whether the catalytically active copper species is Cu° or Cu+. It would be interesting if either Cu° or Cu+ could be stabilized in amorphous alloys. 

Recent years there have been a considerable interest in studying of binary catalytic systems based on stabilized nanocomposites and amorphous alloys of copper with other metals. The reason is that the catalytic activity of such systems in many cases is sufficiently higher than that of individual metals. The most convenient model for theoretical description of binary systems characterized by the absence of far order is a cluster model. However, quantum-chemical study of binary clusters comprises the significantly more c omplicated problem than that o f individual metals, b ecause a correct theoretical description of metal-another metal cluster systems requires that the used method should be in a position to provide good results of calculations of geometrical, electron stmctures and energetic characteristics of both of individual metals. 

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