A PERSPECTIVE OF SURFACE-CHEMISTRY

Some highlights in the development of experimental strategies in the study of surface chemistry and catalysis over the last two decades are discussed. The role of adsorbate activation by surface oxygen in providing impetus and direction to research over the last two decades is considered and emphasis given to recent work at Cardiff in exploring the role that surface transients can play in determining reaction pathways. Evidence for very efficient kinetic routes to products but involving immeasurably small concentrations of surface species raises general issues relating to the more traditional approach to catalysis based on for example a Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism.