Contributions of surface physics to catalysis

Abstract

In the last two decades, surface physics has experienced such an extensive development of measuring techniques and theoretical capabilities that it can practically be considered a new science. The information and understanding it is obtaining concerns many of the processes at the atomic and electronic levels, which are fundamental to heterogeneous catalysis. It is also. widely recog- nized that catalysis plays an important role in the solution of the double problem that is confronting our technological civilization, namely, the production and consumption of vast amounts of energy in a way that avoids excessive pollution of our environment. Thus, it appears that research with the tools of surface physics directed at the problems of catalysis represents an excellent opportunity to advance our knowledge in a way that is useful to society.^1–2