Universality in Heterogeneous Catalysis

Universality in Heterogeneous Catalysis
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by J. K. Norskov, T. Bligaard, A. Logadottir, S. Bahn, L. B. Hansen, M.
Bollinger, H. Bengaard, B. Hammer, Z. Sljivancanin, M. Mavrikakis, Y.
Xu, S. Dahl, and C. J. H. Jacobsen.

J. Catal. **209**, 275-278 (2002).

Abstract
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Based on an extensive set of density functional theory calculations it
is shown that for a class of catalytic reactions there is a universa,
reactant independent relation between the reaction activation energy and
the stability of reaction intermediates. This leads directly to a
universal relationship between adsorption energies and catalytic
activity, which is used to pinpoint what it is that determines the best
catalyst for a given reaction. The universality principle rationalizes a
number of known facts about catalysts and points to new ways of
improving them.