Surface reactions involve multiple steps, including adsorption of reactants, surface diffusion, reaction at active sites, and desorption of products. These steps can occur via different mechanisms, such as the Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism, where both reactants adsorb onto the catalyst surface before reacting, or the Eley-Rideal mechanism, where one reactant adsorbs and reacts directly with another reactant from the gas or liquid phase. Understanding these mechanisms helps in designing more efficient catalysts.
