Experimental and theoretical investigation of hydrogen diffusion on a metal surface

We describe experimental and theoretical studies of hydrogen diffusion on metal surfaces. The experimental system is H/Pd(111) and we describe the utilization of low-energy electron diffraction in combination with electron stimulation of the surface by the incident beam to investigate surface diffusion. Electron stimulated desorption, as well as disordering are discussed with regard to the interpretation of the experiments. To study surface diffusion theoretically, variational transition state theory is employed. The system studied by this technique is H/Ni(111) and comparison to experiment is given.