Adsorption and catalysis on rare earth surfaces

The authors review surface chemistry on rare earth related materials, that is, published information on the interaction of gases on and with rare earth surfaces is evaluated. The present treatment is therefore confined to phenomena occurring on the gas-solid interface. Conventional studies of catalytic processes on rare earth surfaces have been known for quite a number of years, but it is only recently that studies on well-defined rare earth surfaces involving modern methods of surface science have been initiated. This field, however, is rapidly expanding. It therefore seems timely to examine surface reactions on rare earth materials in the light of the present knowledge of surface science in order to establish the present state of the art and to provide a basis for future research in this area. (Auth.)