Model Catalysis has come a long way. The development of planar nanoparticle model catalysts, consisting of well-defined metal particles grown in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) on thin oxide films, provides a route to mimic an increasing number of technical catalysts [1,2]. The mean particle size (~2-10 nm) as well as the particle morphology and defect structure can be accurately controlled. Furthermore, the planarity and electrical and thermal conductivity of the model systems allows applying a wide range of surface sensitive imaging (STM) and spectroscopic (XPS, IRAS, SFG, TPD, etc) techniques. In parallel, significant advances have been made in carrying out surface characterization under non-UHV conditions, i.e. under mbar to atmospheric pressure. Photon-based methods such as sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy or polarization-modulation infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRAS), together with high-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HP-XPS) are among the prime techniques for in situ studies of surface processes or catalytic reactions on model systems. A number of case studies will be presented, including CO adsorption and hydrogenation, partial methanol oxidation and olefin and diene hydrogenation, carried out on Pd-Al₂O₃, Pd-Nb₂O₅ and Pd-Fe₃O₄ model catalysts.

[1] G. Rupprechter, Annu. Rep. Prog. Chem. (C) 100 (2004) 237. [2] H.-J. Freund, M. Bäumer, J. Libuda, T. Risse, G. Rupprechter, S. Shaikhutdinov, J. Catal. 216 (2003) 223.

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