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Abstract

The paper discusses the hierarchy of model studies with increasing complexity towards an understanding of industrial catalysts under reaction conditions. We use three case studies to document the progress in systems complexity as well as the development of instruments that allow us to approach the study of acting catalysts: magnesium oxide clusters in the gas phase, gold nanoparticles on metal oxide surfaces, and palladium nanoparticles compared to crystal surfaces. While the examples are from the field of heterogeneous catalysis, we discuss the relation to homogeneous and enzymatic catalysis.