Ion Beams and Catalysis

Abstract

ABSTRACTIon beam techniques have found increasing application in recent years to a wide variety of disciplines. It is the purpose of this paper to explore their potential in the field of catalysis, concentrating exclusively on solid heterogeneous catalysts. An initial description of the internal structure and external physical form of some typical catalysts is followed by an assessment of the use of ion beams for the preparation and interrogation of both “real” and model catalysts. These techniques are then compared to some of the modern tools used in current catalysis research. It emerges that ion beams can indeed be used to advantage in certain applications, such as detecting light elements selectively; measuring interaction effects between metals and supports in model systems; highlighting surface relaxation effects in metal single crystals; and even, in special circumstances, in synthesising catalysts.