7. Glossary

Adsorption ; Adsorption

The principle of adsorption is based on the property of materials (adsorbent) to bind certain gas molecules (adsorbate) to their surface.

Physisorption ; Physisorption

Spontaneous, reversible process of grafting molecules onto the surface of a material by rapid physical interactions, such as intermolecular Van der Waals forces of attraction. There is no electronic exchange (of charge carriers) between adsorbate and adsorbent, and no activation energy is required.

Chemisorption; Chemisorption

Surface chemical reaction between a gaseous molecule and a material at specific sites. A chemical reaction takes place between the adsorbate and the adsorbent, requiring activation energy and resulting in an exchange of charge carriers (electrons)....