Mechanistic aspects of the heterogeneouscatalysts:the classical approach (1950-1980)

Abstract

Strong “classical” heterogeneous catalysis groups were emerging in the USA (Boudart, Burwell, Emmett, Turkevich, Weisz),France (Imelik, Teichner), USSR (Boreskov, Kazansky, Balandin, Volkenstein), Netherlands (Schuit, Sachtler, van Reijen, Ponec), Poland (Haber) and the UK (Bond, Dowden, Eley, Kemball, Stone, Thompson, Webb and Wells). In the main there was an emphasis on ascertaining reaction mechanisms from monitoring the gas phase through for example exchange and kinetic studies, with less attention given to the surface although catalyst preparation and knowledge of solid state chemistry, particularly the role of defects in oxide surfaces and the electronic theory of catalysis, were recurring themes. Two spectroscopic techniques that were most significant in supporting the classical approach was infrared (widely used) and electron spin resonance (Che, Tench, Kazansky, Pink and Rooney). During the last decade of this period surface sensitive spectroscopies (X-ray photoelectron, Auger and Reflection Absorption Infrared) had become established but in the main were confined to the surface science schools (Pritchard, Chesters, King, Yates, Somorjai, Solymosi and Roberts) who were giving more attention to reactions and chemisorption (mainly CO!) at single crystal metal surfaces.