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Abstract

This chapter summarizes efforts to use thin oxide films as model supports for heterogeneous catalysts. We demonstrate that the oxide film route provides a useful platform to study oxide surfaces, per se its interaction with species from the gas phase, supported metal and oxide nanoparticles using the entire tool box of surfaces science under ultrahigh vacuum conditions. The extension to use thin oxide films as template also under ambient conditions or under water, is discussed and the potential to use oxide films as genuine two-dimensional materials is exemplified with vitreous and crystalline silica films.