The amorphous Ni63Zr37 alloy ribbon surface exhibited high catalytic activity for hydrogenation of ethyne to ethylene when the alloy ribbon surface was pretreated with a dilute acid solution and heated under neg. atomsphere pressure successively. The elemental composition and chem. characteristics as a function of depth below the surface was determine by means of Auger electron spectroscopy and XPS combined with the use of argon ion bombardment. The ribbon structure and surface area were estimated by XRD and the BET method. The raw amorphous alloy surface was covered by a thin layer of oxides of Zr. After pretreatment, the surface area was changed from 0.05 to 15.41 m2/g, elemental Ni to Zr ratio on the ribbon surface was changed from Ni?Zr?9 to Ni57Zr43. The decrease of surface Zr concentration reduces the Ni 2p3/2 binding energy of surface Ni.

Key words: AUGER ELECTRON SPECTROMETRY, CATALYST, SURFACES, ACTIVATION, NICKEL BASE ALLOYS, X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROMETRY, SPUTTERING, ZIRCONIUM ALLOYS, CATALYTIC ACTIVITY, ARGON ION