Surfaceselective

Surfaceselective (also written as surface-selective) refers to processes, phenomena, or measurements that occur predominantly at an interface or on the surface of a material rather than in its bulk. The term is used across chemistry, physics, and materials science to describe adsorption, reactions, or properties that are driven by surface atoms, facets, and defects.

Surface selectivity arises from the unique environment at a surface: undercoordinated atoms, altered electronic structure, and interactions with adsorbates or solvents. Factors include crystal facet, defect sites, reconstructions, and local charge. This can steer reaction pathways, adsorption strength, or spectroscopic signals toward the surface. For example, different facets of a metal oxide can favor different adsorption geometries, leading to surface-selective oxidation.

Techniques to study surface selectivity include surface-sensitive spectroscopies and microscopy, such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, and sum-frequency generation spectroscopy, often conducted in situ or under realistic conditions. Complementary methods combine experimental data with theoretical modeling to distinguish surface contributions from bulk signals.

Applications encompass heterogeneous catalysis, where product selectivity and reaction rates are governed by surface sites; sensing and corrosion science; and nanofabrication, where surface-guided growth yields particular shapes or architectures. The concept of surfaceselectivity complements broader topics in surface chemistry and interfacial science, helping to understand and control phenomena at interfaces in chemistry, physics, and engineering.