High catalytic activity of hydrogenation of ethylene over an amorphous Ce Ni₂H_x

Hydrogenation of ethylene (C₂H₄) over intermetallic Ce Ni₂ and amorphous Ce Ni₂H_x have been investigated. Amorphous catalyzed hydrogenation of C₂H₄ much more effectively than intermetallic Ce Ni₂. For amorphous Ce Ni₂H_x, activity of the hydrogenation of C ₂H₄ was drastically enhanced by the presence of H ₂ at low temperature (<40°C) in H₂/C ₂H₄ whereas no activity was detected in He/C ₂H₄ even at 160°C. According to C₂H ₄ temperature-programmed desorption measurements, it is concluded that amorphous Ce Ni₂H_x exhibits high activity due to its disordered structure where absorbed hydrogen plays an important role in the formation of active sites.