Scanning tunnelling microscopy studies of reactions on metal surfaces and model oxide supports

A review of surface reactions studied with scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) is presented which shows how STM can give unprecedented insight into the mechanisms at an atomic level. This is illustrated using a number of examples from work at the Interdisciplinary Research Centre in Surface Science. In addition, a number of common trends which occur in different systems are highlighted. Finally, results on the characterization of oxide surfaces are presented because these materials act as supports for many of the metals in industrial catalyst systems.