The activation of amorphous Fe90Zr10 alloy ribbon was carried out under ammonia synthesis conditions (673 K, stoichiometric feed, 0.9 ?106 Pa). The depth profile of composition, chem. state of elements and morphol. on both sides of free and dull of the as received and the activated alloy ribbons have been studied by AES, XPS, SAM and SEM, and the bulk structure of the ribbons determine by XRD. The experimental results showed that the as received ribbons showed significant surface enrichment of zirconium on the free sides, and surface enrichment of iron and depletion of zirconium on the dull sides. The surface Fe oxides on the free and the dull sides were Fe2O3 and Fe3O4, resp. There were chem. and structural changes during the ribbon activation. The surface zirconium concentration decreased on the free side, but increased on the dull side. The Fe oxides on the dull side were reduced completely. The ribbon crystd. and the surface area increased significantly after the activation. The principal mechanism of the activation was discussed.

Key words: AUGER ELECTRON SPECTROMETRY, X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROMETRY, ALLOY ANALYSIS, SURFACE ANALYSIS, IRON ALLOYS, ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS, CATALYTIC ACTIVITY, SYNTHESIS AMMONIA, AMORPHOUS ALLOY