METASTABLE METALS FOR GREEN MATERIALS FOR GLOBAL ATMOSPHERE CONSERVATION AND ABUNDANT ENERGY SUPPLY

A ''green'' materials research project has been planned for CO2 recycling, NO(x) decomposition, SO(x) recovery and chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) decomposition. The CO2 recycling is not only for conservation of the global atmosphere but also for abundant energy supply. This consists of recovery and liquefaction of CO2 at fuel-burning plants, transportation of liquefied CO2 to the coast close to deserts, formation of CH4 by the reaction of CO2 with H-2 formed at the coast by electrolysis of sea water by using the electricity generated by solar cell operation at the deserts, liquefaction of CH4, and transportation of liquefied CH4 to fuel-burning plants. Amorphous alloys are quite useful for catalysts for the conversion of CO2 into CH4, direct decomposition of NO(x) and decomposition of CFCs by hydrolysis. Amorphous and metastable metals have the potential to tailor effective electrodes for electrolysis of sea water to form hydrogen.