Patent ID: 8709967

Claim:
A wire catalyst for hydrogenation reaction and/or dehydrogenation reaction comprising a main wire and a catalytic material for hydrogenation reaction and/or dehydrogenation reaction supported thereon, and the main wire comprising a metallic core and an oxide surface layer covering at least part of the surface thereof, wherein the metallic core is composed of a central core portion made of a nickelic material comprising not less than 99 wt % of nickel, and an outer coat portion made of aluminum and covering the entire surface of the central core portion, the oxide surface layer is an alumina layer which is formed from the aluminum of the outer coat portion so that an aluminum layer resides between the alumina layer and the central core portion, and the alumina layer covers the substantially entire surface of the aluminum layer, and the entire volume of the outer coat portion inclusive of the alumina layer is not less than 2% and not more than 40% of the entire volume of the main wire, whereby the metallic core is electrically conductive so that the metallic core itself can generate heat by directly passing an electric current therethrough or electromagnetic induction, the oxide surface layer is provided with a porous structure having pores opening at the surface of the oxide surface layer, and the catalytic material is supported in the pores of the oxide surface layer.