The tunneling microscope: a new look at the atomic world

A new instrument called the tunneling microscope has recently been developed that is capable of generating real-space images of surfaces showing atomic structure. These images offer a new view of matter on an atomic scale. The current capabilities and limitations and the physics involved in the technique are discussed along with specific results from a study of silicon crystal surfaces.     

Molecular transformations on single crystal metal surfaces

One of the primary objectives of modern surface chemistry of transition metals is the synthesis of surface compounds and complexes and the understanding of their reactivity, structure, and bonding. Such considerations are paramount for advancing understanding of catalysis, adhesion, organic thin-film growth, and electrocatalysis. On selected metals, particularly copper, silver, and gold, selective scission of X-H bonds (where X is oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, or sulfur) by surface-bound atomic oxygen occurs to form moderately stable species that can be isolated for further study. Selective oxidation reactions may occur heterogeneously by means of this novel oxygen- activated route. Furthermore, this selective chemistry offers a paradigm for synthesis of a wide variety of surface organometallic complexes, whose formation can be predicted from acid-base principles. These subjects are discussed in this article with emphasis on their role in catalytic oxidation cycles.