The theoretical approach to surface chemistry and heterogeneous catalysis

AbstractTransition metals are the most interesting items among heavy atoms due to their extensive use in catalysis. Present understanding of heterogeneous catalytic reactions is still very poor, and new experimental and theoretical techniques have been developed in recent years with the aim of elucidating the mechanism of adsorption and reaction of simple molecules over metal surfaces or clusters. Empirical, semiempirical, and ab initio methods of calculations are briefly reviewed: results and perspectives are presented.