This Project is concentrated on a detailed study of the intimate processes occurring when molecules are adsorbed, desorbed or are reacting at atomically clean, well characterized, single crystal ferroelectric surfaces synthesized by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). In situ investigations will be carried out by a multitude of surface science techniques: X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron diffraction, low energy and reflection high energy electron diffraction (LEED and RHEED), mass spectroscopy, aiming to seek adsorptions, desorptions and molecular reactions when the ferroelectric polarization is triggered by external parameters (optically, thermally or by charge carrier injection). The goal of this project will be a detailed description of the molecular processes occurring at ferroelectric surfaces (lead zirco-titanate and barium titanate, also combined with noble metals as co-catalysts – Ag, Au, Pt, Pd), mainly involving molecular reactions of actual interest for automotive industry: (i) oxidation of carbon monoxide; (ii) reduction of nitric or nitrous oxide (NOx); (iii) combined reaction pathways for three way catalysts. The results of the Project will be helpful for the development of new catalytic converters, cheaper, operating at lower temperatures and whose activity may be triggered optically or electrically. The main output will consist in scientific papers in top tier ISI journals and possibly a patent application towards the end of the Project.