We review recent experimental and theoretical work aimed to understand the reaction dynamics of hydrogen molecules at metal surfaces. Diffraction experiments and calculations using ab initio determined six-dimensional potential energy surfaces were carried out on several single-crystal surfaces: NiAl(110), Pt(111), Pd(111) and Pd(110). We discuss the general trends observed in the energy range studied (20-150 meV) when going from nonreactive to very reactive surfaces as well as specific features of the dynamics which can be seen in diffraction studies.
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