Module 3: Catalytic Processes on

Solid Surfaces

G. Ertl, 2007
Irving Langmuir, 1932
Studies of Chemical
discoveries and Wilhelm Ostwald, 1909
Processes on Solid
investigations in discoveries and
Surfaces S. Arrhenius 1903
surface chemistry investigations in
surface chemistry

Jans Jacob Berzelius

1779-1848
 Focus of this module: Explaining the detailed
mechanism of catalytic Ammonia Synthesis

Fritz Haber 1918 Carl Bosch 1931 G. Ertl, 2007

For synthesis of For invention and Studies of Chemical
ammonia from its development of Processes on Solid
elements chemical high Surfaces
pressure methods

Heterogeneous catalysis has been known for a very long time but its detailed
mechanism has only been recently demonstrated
 Questions to be addressed

What are the detailed steps during the catalytic process ?

What experimental tools are needed to elucidate the

mechanism of surface catalysis ?

What is the role of the metal surface in Catalysis ?

What is the BEST catalyst ? (Fastest, Cheapest, Greenest)
Can this be PREDICTED ?
 Partial Answers
N2 (g) N2 (ads)
N2 (ads) 2 N (ads)
H2 (g) H2 (ads)
H2 (ads) 2 H (ads)
N(ads) +3 H(ads) NH3 (ads)
NH3 (ads) NH3 (g)
The Whole
Answer
 Important Concepts
Adsorption/Desorption
Activation
Solids and Surfaces
Experimental methods:
Thermal Desorption Spectroscopy, Change in work function, Secondary
ion Mass Spectroscopy, Ion Backscattering spectroscopy, Auger Electron
spectroscopy
Photoelectron spectroscopy, Low Energy Electron Diffraction
Scanning Tunneling Microscopy/Spectroscopy, Atomic Force microscopy
 Lecture Plan
Lec 1 : Basic concepts of heterogeneous catalysis Mc Quarrie & Simon,
Physical Chemistry: A
Lec 2 : Adsorption Potential, Langmuir Adsorption Molecular Approach
Lec 3 : Langmuir-Hinshelwood, Eley-Rideal mechanisms
Tut 1 : Solids, Surfaces and Adsorption (Self study)
Lec 4 : Molecular orbital theory, Band theory, Adsorption
Lec 5 : Experimental Methods for Solid Surfaces
Lec 6 : Experimental methods (contd)
Tut 2 : Self Study
Lec 7 : Ertl's experimentation
Lec 8 : Ertl's elucidation of mechanism
Lec 9 : Key findings, Conclusions
Tut 3 : Quiz

G.Ertl, et. al. Appl. Surf. Sci. 8, 373 (1981)

G.Ertl, Nobel Prize Lecture
G. Ertl, Angew. Chem.15, 7 (1976)