The Surface Science of Catalysis and More, Using Ultrathin Oxide Films as Templates: A Perspective

Surface science has had a major influence on the understanding of processes at surfaces relevant to catalysis. Real catalysts are complex materials, and in order to approach an understanding at the atomic level, it is necessary in a first step to drastically reduce complexity and then systematically increase it again in order to capture the various structural and electronic factors important for the function of the real catalytic material. The use of thin oxide films as templates to mimic three-dimensional supports as such or for metal particles as well as to model charge barriers turns out to be appropriate to approach an understanding of metal-support interactions. Thin oxide films also exhibit properties in their own right that turn out to be relevant in catalysis. Thin oxide film formation may also be used to create unique two-dimensional materials. The present perspective introduces the subject using case studies and indicates possible routes to further apply this approach successfully.