SURFACE COMPOSITION AND CATALYSIS ON ALLOYS

Some aspects of the characterization of alloy surfaces by two methods, viz. Auger spectrometry and thermal desorption, are discussed. Examples demonstrate how the results of the surface composition help to understand the catalytic data. The catalytic systems discussed are: PtPd, PdNi, PtAu and NiCu. With regard to the last mentioned system, information is now available on more than twenty reactions. These data together with the fairly reliable information on the surface composition of NiCu alloys allow to draw quite general conclusions with regard to the classification of catalytic reactions and identification of factors responsible for the catalytic selectivity. © 1979.