Gábor A. Somorjai: The Architect of Modern Surface Science
Gábor A. Somorjai (May 4, 1935 – July 21, 2024) was a titan of 20th and 21st-century chemistry, widely regarded as the "Father of Modern Surface Science." Over a career spanning six decades, Somorjai transformed the study of surfaces from a descriptive qualitative field into a rigorous, molecular-level quantitative science. His work provided the fundamental framework for understanding heterogeneous catalysis—the process behind everything from the production of fertilizer to the cleaning of automotive exhaust.
1. Biography: From Revolution to Berkeley
Gábor Árpád Somorjai was born in Budapest, Hungary, into a Jewish family. His early life was marked by the upheaval of World War II; he and his family survived the Holocaust in Budapest, saved in part by the protective passports issued by Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg.
In 1956, while Somorjai was a fourth-year student of chemical engineering at the Technical University of Budapest, the Hungarian Revolution broke out. Following the Soviet suppression of the uprising, he joined the wave of refugees fleeing the country. He arrived in the United States and enrolled at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry in 1960 under the mentorship of Richard E. Powell.
After a four-year stint as a research staff member at IBM in Yorktown Heights, New York, Somorjai returned to UC Berkeley as an assistant professor in 1964. He remained there for the rest of his career, serving as a Professor of Chemistry and a Faculty Senior Scientist at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL).
2. Major Contributions: Bridging the "Pressure Gap"
Before Somorjai, surface science was hindered by the "pressure gap." Scientists could only study surfaces in ultra-high vacuum (UHV) conditions to keep them clean, but industrial chemical reactions (catalysis) occur at high pressures. Somorjai’s genius lay in developing the tools and theories to bridge this divide.
- Low-Energy Electron Diffraction (LEED): Somorjai was a pioneer in using LEED to determine the atomic structure of surfaces. He showed that surface atoms are not static; they "reconstruct" and move when molecules adsorb onto them.
- Molecular-Level Catalysis: He identified that chemical reactions on surfaces are "structure-sensitive." He demonstrated that the specific arrangement of atoms—such as steps, kinks, and terraces on a metal crystal—determines how effectively a catalyst works.
- Sum Frequency Generation (SFG) Spectroscopy: To see what happens during a reaction, Somorjai helped develop SFG, a non-linear optical technique. This allowed researchers to identify molecular species on a surface in real-time at high pressures and temperatures, effectively "watching" catalysis happen.
- Nanocatalysis: In his later years, he shifted focus to using monodisperse metal nanoparticles, showing how size and shape at the nanoscale could be tuned to create 100% selective catalysts, reducing waste in chemical manufacturing.
3. Notable Publications
Somorjai was an incredibly prolific author, publishing over 1,200 scientific papers. His books are considered the definitive texts of the field:
- Principles of Surface Chemistry (1972): One of the first comprehensive texts to treat surface chemistry as a distinct discipline.
- Introduction to Surface Chemistry and Catalysis (1994; 2nd Ed. 2010): The "bible" for students and researchers in the field, detailing the molecular foundations of surface reactions.
- Surface Science: Foundations of Catalysis and Nanoscience (with Li-Zhi Liao): A later work focusing on the intersection of surface science and the burgeoning field of nanotechnology.
4. Awards & Recognition
While the Nobel Prize famously eluded him—a fact often debated by his peers—Somorjai received nearly every other major accolade in the physical sciences:
- Wolf Prize in Chemistry (1998): Shared with Gerhard Ertl (who later won the Nobel)
"for their contributions to the field of surface science in general and for their elucidation of fundamental mechanisms of heterogeneous catalytic reactions."
- National Medal of Science (2002): Awarded by the President of the United States for his contributions to the understanding of surfaces and catalysis.
- Priestley Medal (2008): The highest honor bestowed by the American Chemical Society.
- Eni Award (2011): For his work in the field of hydrocarbons and energy.
- NAS & AAAS: He was an elected member of the National Academy of Sciences (1979) and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1976).
5. Impact & Legacy
Somorjai’s legacy is twofold: scientific and pedagogical.
Scientific Impact
Modern industry relies on heterogeneous catalysis for 90% of all chemical processes. Somorjai’s work allowed engineers to design catalysts based on molecular principles rather than trial and error. This has had a direct impact on the production of high-octane gasoline, the development of the catalytic converter (reducing smog), and the synthesis of ammonia for fertilizers.
Pedagogical Impact
Somorjai was a legendary mentor. He advised over 130 Ph.D. students and 250 postdoctoral fellows. This "Somorjai School" of researchers now occupies leading positions in academia and industry worldwide, ensuring his methodologies continue to evolve.
6. Collaborations
Somorjai’s work was deeply collaborative, often bridging the gap between physics and chemistry.
- Gerhard Ertl: While they worked independently, their parallel efforts in the 1970s and 80s defined the field. Ertl focused on the kinetics of ammonia synthesis, while Somorjai focused on the structural and high-pressure aspects.
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL): His long association with LBNL allowed him to utilize synchrotrons and advanced imaging tools, collaborating with physicists to push the limits of what could be seen at the atomic level.
7. Lesser-Known Facts
- The Wallenberg Connection: Somorjai never forgot his roots. He often spoke about how his life was a "gift" due to the bravery of Raoul Wallenberg, which fueled his relentless work ethic.
- The "Nobel Snub": In 2007, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Gerhard Ertl alone. Many in the scientific community were shocked that Somorjai was not included, as the two were considered the "twin pillars" of surface science. Characteristically, Somorjai remained gracious, praising Ertl’s work while continuing his own research unabated.
- Enduring Curiosity: Even in his 80s, Somorjai remained active in the lab. He was an early adopter of the "Green Chemistry" movement, arguing that better surface science was the key to a carbon-neutral future through more efficient fuel cells and CO2 recycling.
- Musical Passion: He was a lifelong lover of classical music and an accomplished violinist, often drawing parallels between the harmony of a musical score and the ordered arrangement of atoms on a crystal surface.
Gábor Somorjai passed away in July 2024, leaving behind a world that understands the very "skin" of matter far better than it did before he arrived.