Catalysis and surface phase transformation

Abstract

The possible influence of a magnetic phase transition on the catalytic activity has been discussed for many years in the literature. Molecular beam studies on the H 2/D 2 exchange reaction on Ni single crystal surfaces demonstrated that an apparent effect can be caused by the presence of carbon impurities, but is absent with rigorously clean surfaces. Structural phase transformations of the surface occur upon interaction of CO with Pt(100). The rate of catalytic CO oxidation on this surface exhibits sustained temporal oscillations under proper conditions which are associated with these hex ⇌ 1× 1 phase transformations. These propagate in the form of waves across the surface and thus cause spatial self-organization.