On the Structure of a Catalyst Surface

A method is described which makes it possible to calculate rigorously the distribution of the adsorption energies of the sites of a catalyst surface when the adsorption isotherms are known, if the adsorption is localized and there are no interactions. This method is applied to a Freundlich isotherm, and also to a new theoretical isotherm which reduces to the Freundlich type for small pressures, but exhibits saturation for large pressures. It is shown that this isotherm corresponds to a distribution function which differs very little from a Gaussian one. The case of atomic adsorption of gases is also considered.