The molecular basis of surface chemical reactivity forms the central theme of this book. It is an attempt to survey current understanding about the working of heterogeneous catalysts, emphasizing surface chemical bonding in relation to reaction mechanisms.

Heterogeneous catalysis is a fascinating and complex subject of utmost importance in the present day. Its immense technological and economical importance and the inherent complexity of the catalytic phenomena have stimulated theoretical and experimental studies by a broad spectrum of scientists, including chemists, physicists, chemical engineers, and material scientists. Computational and theoretical techniques are now having a major impact in this field. This book aims to illustrate and discuss the subject of heterogeneous catalysis and to show the current capabilities of the theoretical and computational methods for studying the various steps (diffusion, adsorption, chemical reaction) of heterogeneous catalytic process involving zeolites, metal oxides, and transition metal surfaces. The book covers: the use of techniques of computational chemistry to simulate zeolites, metallic and bimetallic surfaces, and oxide-supported metals; the impact of simulation methods on the understanding of the diffusion and adsorption of molecules and cations within the pores of zeolites, and also on the adsorption of molecules on metal and metal-oxide surfaces; and the applications of quantum-mechanical methods to the study of the reaction mechanism and pathways of the adsorbed molecules. This book is recommended primarily to scientists and graduate students conducting research in the fields of heterogeneous catalysis and surface science. It will also be valuable to advanced undergraduate students wishing to become acquainted with the latest developments in these exciting fields of research, and to experimentalists seeking theoretical support for interpreting their results.

Catalysis involves just about every field of scientific study. This means that a multidisciplinary approach is needed in catalytic studies. Catalysis involves breaking and forming new bonds and this requires an under standing of either adsorption by bonding to an extended structures or bonding in a coordination sphere. Any understanding of catalytic action must necessarily involve an understanding of this bonding. Even 200 years ago scientists were aware that a properly treated mate rial, such as charcoal, could adsorb an enormous quantity of gas. In 1812, de Sassasure (English translation, Annal Philosphy, 6, 241 (1815» pro posed that the ability of a material to increase the rate of chemical reac tion was due to adsorption of the material in the fine structure of the solid so that the concentrations of the reactants were significantly increased, and this increase in concentration led to an increase in reaction rate. During the 1800s, little advance was made in the understanding of adsorp tion.

Table of contents

Chemical Modelling: Applications and Theory comprises critical literature reviews of molecular modelling, both theoretical and applied. Molecular modelling in this context refers to modelling the structure, properties and reactions of atoms, molecules & materials. Each chapter is compiled by experts in their fields and provides a selective review of recent literature. With chemical modelling covering such a wide range of subjects, this Specialist Periodical Report serves as the first port of call to any chemist, biochemist, materials scientist or molecular physicist needing to acquaint themselves of major developments in the area. Specialist Periodical Reports provide systematic and detailed review coverage in major areas of chemical research. Compiled by teams of leading authorities in the relevant subject areas, the series creates a unique service for the active research chemist, with regular, in-depth accounts of progress in particular fields of chemistry. Subject coverage within different volumes of a given title is similar and publication is on an annual or biennial basis. Current subject areas covered are Amino Acids, Peptides and Proteins, Carbohydrate Chemistry, Catalysis, Chemical Modelling. Applications and Theory, Electron Paramagnetic Resonance, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Organometallic Chemistry. Organophosphorus Chemistry, Photochemistry and Spectroscopic Properties of Inorganic and Organometallic Compounds. From time to time, the series has altered according to the fluctuating degrees of activity in the various fields, but these volumes remain a superb reference point for researchers.

Heterogeneous catalysis has developed over the past two centuries as a technology driven by the needs of society, and is part of Nobel Prize-winning science. This book describes the spectacular increase in molecular understanding of heterogenous catalytic reactions in important industrial processes. Reaction mechanism and kinetics are discussed with a unique focus on their relation with the inorganic chemistry of the catalyst material. An introductory chapter presents the development of catalysis science and catalyst discovery from a historical perspective. Five chapters that form the thrust of the book are organized by type of reaction, reactivity principles, and mechanistic theories, which provide the scientific basis to structure-function relationships of catalyst performance. Present-day challenges to catalysis are sketched in a final chapter. Written by one of the world's leading experts on the topic, this definitive text is an essential reference for students, researchers and engineers working in this multibillion-dollar field.

This book comprises the proceedings of a NATO sponsored Advanced Research Workshop held from 1st November to 6th November 1992 in the delightful Chateau de Florans, Bedoin, Vaucluse, France and entitled 'Elementary Reaction Steps in Heterogeneous Catalysis. ' The organisers are grateful to the Science Committee of NATO for their support of this meeting. This is believed to be the first wide ranging NATO ARW in the field of heterogeneous catalysis for 20 years, following a previous venture organised in Sardinia by Basolo and Burwell, of Northwestern University, Illinois, USA [1]. This volume collects the lecture presentations and reports on the lively Panel discussions. The idea for the meeting evolved from a series of International Symposia on Quantum Chemistry and Mechanism in Heterogeneous Catalysis. The first of these was held in Lyon, France in 1986, the second in Krakow, Poland in 1988 and the third in Berkeley, California in 1990. The organising committee of the present meeting was Bernard Bigot, France, Tony Farragher, Netherlands, Richard Joyner, UK, Mme. Danielle Olivier, France, and Rutger van Santen, Netherlands, (Chairman). We wish to thank all members of the committee but in particular Bernard Bigot, who undertook the very extensive work involved in the local organisation with consummate skill and made our stay in Provence a great pleasure. Bernard Bigot's secretary, Mme. Marie-Noelle Coscat and Richard Joyner's secretary, Mrs. Pat Gibbs, also deserve our considerable thanks. There were fifty-four participants from eleven countries.

Written by one of the world's leading experts on the topic, this advanced textbook is the perfect introduction for newcomers to this exciting field. Concise and clear, the text focuses on such key aspects as kinetics, reaction mechanism and surface reactivity, concentrating on the essentials. The author also covers various catalytic systems, catalysis by design, and activation-deactivation. A website with supplementary material offers additional figures, original material and references.

Many processes of the chemical industry are based upon heterogeneous catalysis. Two important items of these processes are the development of the catalyst itself and the design and optimization of the reactor. Both aspects would benefit from rigorous and accurate kinetic modeling, based upon information on the working catalyst gained from classical steady state experimentation, but also from studies using surface science techniques, from quantum chemical calculations providing more insight into possible reaction pathways and from transient experimentation dealing with reactions and reactors. This information is seldom combined into a kinetic model and into a quantitative description of the process. Generally the catalytic aspects are dealt with by chemists and by physicists, while the chemical engineers are called upon for mechanical aspects of the reactor design and its control. The symposium "Dynamics of Surfaces and Reaction Kinetics in Heterogeneous Catalysis" aims at illustrating a more global and concerted approach through a number of prestigious keynote lectures and severely screened oral and poster presentations.