ROLE OF PRECURSORS AND LATERAL INTERACTIONS IN CATALYTIC REACTIONS AT SURFACES

The existence of precursor states and lateral interactions at the gas-metal interface has been demonstrated quite clearly in adsorption and desorption studies at well-defined surfaces. However, their role in real catalytic transformations has not been so frequently, or clearly defined. The objective of this presentation is both to show examples where these phenomena are observed and to demonstrate that meaningful catalytic information can be obtained under UHV conditions from both single crystals and real catalysts. The following examples will be given: (i) CO adsorption on Rh(110), (ii) Oxidative dehydrogenation of alcohols on Cu(110), and (iii) Oxygen adsorption on supported Ag catalysts.