THE MOLECULAR-BEAM REACTOR

A personal review of the use of molecular beam systems for the investi gations of adsorption and surface reactions is given. This includes th e determination of absolute adsorptivities (sticking probabilities), a nd reaction kinetics in transient, pseudo steady-state and steady-stat e modes. In the latter type of experiment true catalytic turnover can be measured. Molecular beam systems can rightly be classified as catal ytic reactors when used for this kind of work. They are in a special c lass of reactors which is ideal for determining catalytic kinetics, na mely, single collision reactors. Examples of the application of this k ind of technology will be given, including CO oxidation on Rh and sele ctive methanol oxidation on Cu.