“…In short, experimental studies of dissociation of gases such as O 2 , H 2 , N 2 , and NO on stepped Pt, Ag, Ru, and Pd surfaces, as the case may be, show the process to be significantly advanced in the presence of steps. For example, Dahl et al claim that N 2 dissociation rate on stepped Ru͑0001͒ is about nine orders of magnitude higher than on the terraces at 500 K. 11 Experiments have also pointed to the relative sensitivities of the step and terrace sites for adsorption: Irokawa et al interpret their ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy data 8 to imply preferential adsorption of NO on terrace sites of Pd͑211͒ at low coverages and at step sites at higher coverages, in agreement with previous experimental observations. 10 Theoretical studies based on densityfunctional theory have supported the general conclusion about the importance of steps arising from these and related experimental studies.…”