Metallic glasses in heterogeneous catalysis

Metallic glasses exhibit some unique properties which make them interesting materials in catalysis. Recently their use as catalyst precursors has been advanced and several efficient catalysts have been prepared by various pretreatments of the metallic glasses. An understanding of the solid-state reactions occurring during the transition of the amorphous precursor to the active catalyst was found to be crucial for successful application of these materials. This paper describes the present knowledge and discusses principal possibilities and problems involved in the application of metallic glasses in catalysis.