Evanescent wave photocatalysis

By introducing a new experimental approach, capable of producing macroscopic fluxes of excited reagents, it has been possible to demonstrate the first surface chemical reaction with electronically excited species. We report a quantum yield close to one for dissociative adsorption of electronically excited SO2 molecules on a surface leading to formation of molecular sulphur. Both the new phenomenon observed and the experimental technique developed may have important perspectives for technological applications.