Influence of Defects on Adsorption—Model Studies With Stepped Surfaces

In this article, we review the latest experimental results on the influence of surface defect in the interaction of different kinds of molecules with metal surfaces, using stepped surfaces as a model system. We will discuss both the adsorption of “simple” molecules of catalytic interest, such as H2, O2, CO, and NO at metal surfaces, and the organic–inorganic interface. The latter is represented, on the one side, by polyaromatic molecules, relevant for nanoelectronics, and on the other side, by amino acids as representative of biological molecules. The substrates are chosen among “nonreactive” noble metals as well as among “reactive” transition metals.