Theoretical aspects and evolution of surface diffusion studies are discusse
d with an emphasis on non-metallic adsorbates at metal surfaces. A survey o
f the existing literature is presented with the main experimental results t
abulated. (The tables and their updates are available online at http://ipen
t.epfl.ch/gr_kern/jv_barth/SD_tables.html) Conception, theoretical and expe
rimental work on transient mobility in the adsorption of gases on metal sur
faces are summarized. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.