Ertl utilized a variety of advanced experimental techniques to study surface reactions. These include Low-Energy Electron Diffraction (LEED), which helps in determining the arrangement of atoms on surfaces, and Photoelectron Spectroscopy, which provides information about the electronic structure of surface atoms. Additionally, he employed Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) to visualize individual atoms and molecules on surfaces, offering unprecedented insights into the atomic-scale processes that underpin catalysis.
