Nanoscale pattern formation in non-equilibrium surface chemical reactions

Using examples from surface science, we consider in article problems of non-equilibrium pattern formation in reactive soft matter. An interplay of reaction, diffusion and energetic interactions between adatoms can produce a variety of non-equilibrium nanostructures, both stationary and traveling. These structures are similar to the patterns found in phase-separating binary mixtures under the influence of reactions. Because of their small sizes, such nanostructures are significantly affected by fluctuations. The derivation of mesoscopic stochastic equations for fluctuating concentrations, starting from the microscopic master equation of the lattice approximation, is discussed. Special attention is paid to surface chemical reactions involving a promoter species, where experimental observations are available