Physics

Nanotechnology

Atom (system on chip)

Photocatalysis

Inelastic scattering

Adsorption

Catalysis

Physical chemistry

Embedded system

Atomic physics

Chemical physics

Chemistry

Scattering

Materials science

Computer science

Quantum mechanics

Biochemistry

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Significance Catalytic reactions at surfaces are exceptionally complex, as they require a multitude of elementary steps. It is therefore very difficult to predict which chemical compounds are catalytically effective. In inelastic scattering experiments in ultrahigh vacuum, the first step of most surface reactions, which is the adsorption, can be studied on model systems in great detail. Based on such experiments new theoretical models can be developed that accurately describe the delicate interplay between electronic and nuclear motion in prototypical chemical reactions, a capability that is needed to make accurate predictions of reaction rates in heterogeneous catalysis, to design useful energy-conversion devices based on chemicurrents, and to understand photocatalysis.

Unified description of H-atom–induced chemicurrents and inelastic scattering