Activation of diatomic molecules at solid surfaces.
The interaction of a diatomic molecule with a well-defined single crystal surface represents the prototype of the elementary processes involved in heterogeneous catalysis, and it can be studied down to atomic length and extremely short (fs) time-scales. Our present understanding is illustrated by examples concerning the activation of hydrogen (including also the breakdown of thermal equilibrium during rapid laser-induced associative desorption), the role of steps as 'active sites' in the dissociative adsorption of NO or N2, and the mechanism and kinetics of the catalytic oxidation of CO.
Ertl
Gerhard
G
Fritz-Haber-Institut der Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Faradayweg 4-6, 14195 Berlin, Germany. ertl@fhi-berlin.mpg.de
D000327:Adsorption; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D002384:Catalysis; D003460:Crystallization / Q000379:methods*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D009584:Nitrogen; D010100:Oxygen