Published online by Cambridge University Press: 25 February 2011
Chemisorption and catalysis on overlayer metals and metal oxides is rich and complex. Thin film model systems, suitable for UHV surface science, are attractive candidates for studying the fundamental interactions involved. In this paper, we discuss three examples: (1) O2 and N2O dissociative adsorption on Cu-covered Ru(0001), (2) molecular CO chemisorption on K-covered Ag(111), and (3) CO, H2 and NO chemisorption on clean and TiOx covered Pt and Rh. In each of these cases, evidence is presented for significant chemical interactions between the two substrate materials.