Rate My Professor Gabor Somorjai

Somorjai's research centered on physical chemistry, solid state chemistry, surface science, and catalysis, providing atomic-level insights into structure, bonding, and reactivity at solid surfaces to elucidate macroscopic phenomena such as catalysis, adhesion, and lubrication. Pioneering studies since 1965 used clean metal single crystal surfaces and 1-10 nm nanoparticles as model catalysts for reactions like hydrocarbon conversion, revealing nanoparticle size- and shape-dependent selectivity. He developed instrumental techniques including sum frequency generation surface vibrational spectroscopy, high-pressure scanning tunneling microscopy, and ambient-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy for in-situ analysis under reaction conditions. His investigations extended to solid-liquid biointerfaces and polymer surfaces. Author of over 1,000 scientific papers and influential textbooks—'Principles of Surface Chemistry' (1972), 'Chemistry in Two Dimensions: Surfaces' (1981), 'Adsorbed Monolayers on Solid Surfaces' (1979), and 'Introduction to Surface Chemistry and Catalysis' (1994, second edition 2010)—Somorjai mentored over 130 Ph.D. students and 200 postdoctoral fellows, with approximately 100 now in faculty positions, profoundly shaping the field as the father of modern surface chemistry. His honors include the National Medal of Science (2002), Wolf Prize in Chemistry (1998), Priestley Medal (2008), Enrico Fermi Award (2023), National Academy of Sciences Award in Chemical Sciences (2013), and election to the National Academy of Sciences (1979) and American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1983). Gabor A. Somorjai passed away on July 7, 2025, at the age of 90.