2026 Gerhard Ertl: Chemistry Researcher – H-Index, Publications & Awards

Discipline name	D-Index	World Ranking	Current World Ranking	National Ranking	Current National Ranking	Publications	Citations
Chemistry	147	151	134	13	12	754	84366

Research.com Recognitions

2026 - Research.com Chemistry in Germany Leader Award
2025 - Research.com Chemistry in Germany Leader Award
2023 - Research.com Chemistry in Germany Leader Award
2022 - Research.com Chemistry in Germany Leader Award
2009 - Polish Academy of Science
2007 - Faraday Lectureship Prize, Royal Society of Chemistry (UK)
2007 - Nobel Prize for his studies of chemical processes on solid surfaces
2002 - Member of the National Academy of Sciences
1998 - Wolf Prize in Chemistry, Wolf Foundation for their outstanding contributions to the field of the surface science in general, and for their elucidation of fundamental mechanisms of heterogeneous catalytic reactions at single crystal surfaces in particular.
1993 - Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
1992 - Member of Academia Europaea
1991 - Bourke Award, Royal Society of Chemistry (UK)
1987 - Liebig-Denkmünze (Liebig Medal), Society of German Chemists
1986 - German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina - Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina – Nationale Akademie der Wissenschaften Chemistry
1985 - Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh
1985 - Centenary Prize, Royal Society of Chemistry (UK)

Overview

Gerhard Ertl is affiliated with the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society in Germany. Their research spans multiple fields, including catalysis, atomic and molecular physics, optics, and materials chemistry. The scientist's work addresses several specialized topics such as catalytic processes in materials science, catalysis and oxidation reactions, catalysts for methane reforming, spectroscopy and quantum chemical studies, advanced chemical physics studies, and quantum superfluid helium dynamics.

Recent publications by Gerhard Ertl include the following papers:

Catalysis is a kinetic phenomenon: The legacy of Michel Boudart, 2021, Journal of Catalysis
Commentary: Chemical dynamics from the gas-phase to surfaces, 2021, Natural Sciences

They frequently collaborate with other researchers such as Klaus Rademann, Bernd Abel, Leipzig Bigall, Rostock Maier, and P. A. Dowben.

The main venues where Gerhard Ertl publishes their work include:

Zeitschrift für Physikalische Chemie
Journal of Catalysis
ACS Catalysis
Natural Sciences

In addition to articles, Gerhard Ertl has published a book titled My Life with Science (extended English edition) in 2023, through GNT-Verlag GmbH eBooks.

The scientist has received multiple recognitions and awards throughout their career, including:

Polish Academy of Science, 2009
Faraday Lectureship Prize, Royal Society of Chemistry (UK), 2007
Nobel Prize, 2007, for studies of chemical processes on solid surfaces
Member of the National Academy of Sciences, 2002
Wolf Prize in Chemistry, Wolf Foundation, 1998, for contributions to surface science and elucidation of mechanisms of heterogeneous catalytic reactions at single crystal surfaces
Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 1993
Member of Academia Europaea, 1992
Bourke Award, Royal Society of Chemistry (UK), 1991
Liebig-Denkmünze (Liebig Medal), Society of German Chemists, 1987
German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, 1986
Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 1985
Centenary Prize, Royal Society of Chemistry (UK), 1985

Best Publications

Handbook of Heterogeneous Catalysis

Gerhard Ertl;Helmut Knözinger;Ferdi Schüth;Jens Weitkamp

4505
Citations
Low Energy Electrons and Surface Chemistry

Gerhard Ertl;J. Kuppers

1857
Citations
Scanning tunneling microscopy observations on the reconstructed Au(111) surface: Atomic structure, long-range superstructure, rotational domains, and surface defects

Johannes V. Barth;Harald Brune;Gerhard Ertl;R. J. Behm

1652
Citations
Reactions at surfaces: from atoms to complexity (Nobel Lecture).

Gerhard Ertl

1506
Citations
Oscillatory Kinetics in Heterogeneous Catalysis

Ronald. Imbihl;Gerhard. Ertl

1433
Citations
Elementary Steps in the Catalytic Oxidation of Carbon Monoxide on Platinum Metals

T. Engel;G. Ertl

1284
Citations
Atomic-scale structure and catalytic reactivity of the RuO(2)(110) surface

Herbert Over;Young Dae Kim;A. P. Seitsonen;A. P. Seitsonen;Stefan Wendt

1095
Citations
Chemisorption of CO on the Pt(111) surface

G. Ertl;M. Neumann;K.M. Streit

1020
Citations
Spatiotemporal concentration patterns in a surface reaction: Propagating and standing waves, rotating spirals, and turbulence.

S. Jakubith;H. H. Rotermund;W. Engel;A. von Oertzen

942
Citations
Adsorption of hydrogen on a Pt(111) surface

K Christmann;G Ertl;T Pignet

853
Citations
Adsorption of hydrogen on palladium single crystal surfaces

H. Conrad;G. Ertl;E.E. Latta

835
Citations
Adsorption of hydrogen on nickel single crystal surfaces

K. Christmann;O. Schober;G. Ertl;M. Neumann

803
Citations
Nanoscale Probing of Adsorbed Species by Tip-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Bruno Pettinger;Bin Ren;Gennaro Picardi;Rolf Schuster

754
Citations
A molecular beam investigation of the catalytic oxidation of CO on Pd (111)

T. Engel;G. Ertl

708
Citations
Identification of the "Active Sites" of a Surface-Catalyzed Reaction

T. Zambelli;J. Wintterlin;J. Trost;G. Ertl

693
Citations
A molecular beam study of the catalytic oxidation of CO on a Pt(111) surface

C. T. Campbell;G. Ertl;H. Kuipers;J. Segner

677
Citations
Surface Science and Catalysis—Studies on the Mechanism of Ammonia Synthesis: The P. H. Emmett Award Address

G. Ertl

667
Citations
Adsorption of CO on Pd single crystal surfaces

H. Conrad;G. Ertl;J. Koch;E.E. Latta

634
Citations
Phonon- Versus Electron-Mediated Desorption and Oxidation of CO on Ru(0001)

Mischa Bonn;Stephan Funk;Christian Hess;Daniel N. Denzler

589
Citations
A molecular beam study of the adsorption and desorption of oxygen from a Pt(111) surface

C.T. Campbell;G. Ertl;H. Kuipers;J. Segner

578
Citations

Frequent Co-Authors

R. J. Behm University of Ulm

J. Küppers Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Martin Wolf Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society

Herbert Over University of Giessen

Joost Wintterlin Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Harm Hinrich Rotermund Dalhousie University

Klaus Christmann Freie Universität Berlin

Martin Muhler Ruhr University Bochum

Ronald Imbihl University of Hannover

Bruno Pettinger Max Planck Society

External Links

Wikipedia of Gerhard Ertl Personal website of Gerhard Ertl

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