Reaction Kinetics and Mechanism: Model Studies on Metal Single Crystals [P.H. Emmett Award Address, 1983]

In the past decade remarkable progress has been made in the surface science of catalysis. Studies on both small single crystal metal particles on supporting materials and on large (bulk) single crystals point toward a more refined understanding of the fundamental processes underlying catalytic chemistry and, hopefully, toward a rational design of catalytic materials. It seems clear that concepts gleaned from studies on single crystal surfaces will strongly influence the research with supported metal catalysts and ultimately affect the nature of the materials used as practical catalysts.