© Copyright 1997 American Chemical Society
MARCH 5, 1997 VOLUME 13, NUMBER 5
Foreword Second International Symposium: Effects of Surface Heterogeneity in Adsorption and Catalysis on Solids Organized by A. Brunovska Slovak Technical University, Bratislava, Slovakia W. Rudzin ´ ski Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Lublin, Poland B. W. Wojciechowski Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada Committee for Interface Chemistry of the Polish Chemical Society
Geometric and energetic heterogeneities constitute a fundamental feature of solid surfaces in the study of adsorption. Hundreds of papers have been published containing convincing evidence that surface energetic heterogeneity is an important factor affecting fluid/solid interactions at the interface. The presence of such heterogeneities is predicted by statistical theories, well illustrated by computer simulations of crystal growth, and explained by the theories of formation of amorphous structures. In most cases energetic surface heterogeneity is the direct consequence of geometric surface heterogeneity. It is surprising, therefore, that the theories of adsorption on energetically heterogeneous and on porous surfaces have historically developed along two separate routes. More surprising perhaps, is the almost total disregard of any energetic heterogeneity in the formulation of the kinetics and catalysis by solids. To share and broaden our understanding of the phenomena involved, a number of those working in this field perceived the need for a symposium S0743-7463(96)00117-5 CCC: $14.00
devoted specifically to surface heterogeneity which would serve as a forum for an intensive exchange of ideas and the speeding up of progress in this field. There was also a desire to meet others engaged in the study of the same topics, in a setting where ideas could be easily exchanged and one-to-one discussions facilitated. In particular, we felt that it was time for those working in catalysis to be made aware of the current state of the art in adsorption, and vice versa. As a result several dozen participants and accompanying persons assembled at the first International Symposium on Effects of Surface Heterogeneity in Adsorption and Catalysis on Solids (ISSHAC) held in Poland in the summer of 1992. The success of the first ISSHAC has encouraged the organizers to present a second, with even better technical and social programs. This second symposium was held at two sites in the High Tatra Mountains, one in Poland and one in the Slovak Republic. The symposium attracted over 100 active participants. We would like to keep the sympo© 1997 American Chemical Society
882
Langmuir, Vol. 13, No. 5, 1997
sium to that size to avoid parallel sessions. There were 52 oral presentations during the symposium. The first one was the introductory lecture by Professor Douglas H. Everett, and the last one was the summarizing lecture by Professor William A. Steele. Then 81 posters were presented during the symposium. However, as the symposium program was especially heavy, there was little time for discussions after oral presentations. Emphasis was, therefore, placed on the creation of a maximum number of opportunities for informal discussions, to facilitate direct person-to-person exchange of ideas. Both the oral and poster presentations covered a variety of problems including modeling of heterogeneous solid surfaces, modeling of adsorption on nonporous heterogeneous surfaces, experimental and theoretical studies of surface energetic heterogeneity, fractal properties of heterogeneous surfaces, modeling of adsorption in planar and in regular confined geometries, modeling of adsorption in nonregular confined geometries, studies of the nature of adsorbatesurface interactions, effects of surface heterogeneity on dynamics of adsorption-desorption phenomena, combined effects of energeticgeometric heterogeneity, adsorption by carbon adsorbents, effects of surface heterogeneity in adsorption at solid/solution interface, and surface heterogeneity effects in catalysis. The last topic
was represented by a relatively small number of works, due to the unhappy overlapping in time of our ISSHAC symposium with the EUROCAT catalytic congress. Compared to the first ISSHAC, there was a substantial increase of work treating time dependence of adsorption phenomena. Similar to the first symposium, direct experimental studies of solid surfaces were not well presented. We will do our best to put more efforts to introduce such studies at our next symposium. This time we will meet again in Poland, in the beautiful historical city of Torun´, where Nicholas Copernicus, one of the greatest scientists in world history, was born. Torun´ is a 760 year old town situated on the Vistula River about 200 km northwest of Warsaw. Gothic architecture constitutes in Torun´ the richest complex of medieval burgher buildings in Poland. Also in the vicinity of Torun´, there are places of great cultural and historical interest. The symposium will be held in July 1998. For more detailed information, please contact Professor W. Rudzin´ski (e-mail address: RUDZINSK@ HERMES.UMCS.LUBLIN.PL).
Wladyslaw Rudzin ´ ski Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Lublin, Poland LA960117U
