Some twists and turns in the path of improving surface activity

The average reactivity of a catalytic surface was appreciably enhanced through spatio-temporally variable operation. Computer steering of a focused laser beam allowed the realization of controlled temperature profiles and their interaction with intrinsic system (reaction/transport) time and space scales. Real-time monitoring of the product concentration then enabled the exploration/implementation of strategies towards optimizing the overall reaction rate. The ability to dictate reaction conditions in space and time, whether in open or in closed loop [1–3] [Science 292 (2001) 1357; Nature 361 (1993) 240; Science 294 (2001) 134], opens new directions for reaction control (e.g., of activity and selectivity in more complex reaction networks) through the combination of chemistry and systems theory.