RAIRS model catalysts

Most of the RAIRS applications have been concerned with basic work on model catalyst systems, since many of the metals listed above as being suitable reflecting substrates are also by a fortuitous coincidence catalytically active. Also, many of the molecules of interest in catalytic processes possess large absorption cross-sections in the infrared. As a result much valuable insight has been gained into the mechanisms of surface interactions, particularly in catalysis but also in other areas. 

There is a number of vibrational spectroscopic techniques not directly applicable to the study of real catalysts but which are used with model surfaces, such as single crystals. These include reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS or IRAS) high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS, EELS) infrared ellipsometric spectroscopy. 

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