The adsorption and reaction of low molecular weight alkanes on metallic single crystal surfaces

The adsorption and reaction of alkanes on/with metal single crystal surfaces are reviewed in this report. A comprehensive treatment of the structures and binding of molecular alkanes on metals is first presented. A detailed discussion of the current state of understanding of the dynamics of alkane trapping at surfaces then follows, including the most recent treatments of the roles of both intrinsic and extrinsic precursor states and the influence of preadsorbed species on trapping. The progress in the use of molecular dynamics simulations to predict trapping probabilities is thoroughly discussed. The cur-rent states of both the dynamics and the kinetics of dissociative adsorption on a variety of metal surfaces are elaborated. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.