Charge-transfer induced particle emission in gas surface reactions

Highly exothermic gas surface reactions may lead to the emission of electrons, ions and photons. These particles stem from the non-adiabatic de-excitation of a system in which charge is transferred between the surface and the adsorbate. The main concepts for chemisorptive particle emission are reviewed, as is its application for the recording of reaction kinetics and finally the information that it can provide on the dynamics of charge-transfer reactions at surfaces is examined.