AVS 46th International Symposium
    Surface Science Division Thursday Sessions
       Session SS3+BI-ThA

Invited Paper SS3+BI-ThA7
Adsorption and Reactions in Enzymes and on Surfaces: Similarities And Differences

Thursday, October 28, 1999, 4:00 pm, Room 613/614

Session: Biological Surface Science
Presenter: J.K. Nørskov, Technical University of Denmark
Authors: A. Logadottir, Technical University of Denmark
T.H. Rod, Technical University of Denmark
J.K. Nørskov, Technical University of Denmark
Correspondent: Click to Email
There are a number of cases where surfaces and biomolecules adsorb the same molecules and catalyze the same reactions. This makes it possible to make comparisons and to see if the concepts of surface science can be transferred to biomolecules. As a specific example, the adsorption of N@sub 2@ and the ammonia synthesis reaction on metal surfaces and in the enzyme nitrogenase will be compared in detail. The comparisons are largely based on density functional calculations which provide a detailed description of the extensive database of experiments for the nitrogen activation process on Fe and Ru surfaces, and which can be used to give the first hint of a mechanism in the enzyme process.