Two types of surfaces are referenced, early and late transition metals, but the "substrate" is not identified.  It is possible that Pearson's Hard/Soft Acid Base theory might be the answer for which you are looking.  There is a description on Wikipedia.

I also have to ask the question about "substrate"?  However, in very general terms, the later, heavier metals, such as Ru, Os, Rh, Ir, Pd and Pt have much more electron density and so the types of binding that require back-bonding such as CO, CH2=CH2 etc will bind better to those metals.  In addition, H2 binds by breaking into 2H on surfaces and electron density also helps those reactions.

Maybe due to their larger atomic radius? Nevertheless, "substrate" should be clarified.

Dear Isaac,

Homogeneous, as well as heterogeneous catalysis is based on interaction of frontier orbitals of reactants with a catalyst, products and intermediates with catalyst, and of course effect of a solvent if applied. Interactions with late transition metals are easier (lower energy barriers for chemisorption, usually high concentration of active-catalytic sites on the surface) than in case of early transition metals.  Subsequently, energy barrier for reaction of chemisorbed reactants is lowered in comparison with a non-catalysed reaction.  

 There is a vast amount of literature dealing with catalysis, e.g. Heterogeneous Catalysis: Fundamentals and Applications (Ross), Heterogeneous Catalysis in Industrial Practice (Satterfield), etc.

 Some data about catalytic phenomena you can find in the paper available on:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/265786340_Adsorption_chemisorption_and_catalysis

As for strength of chemisorption, what is an inevitable step in heterogeneous catalysis is possible to find in the recent paper:

 https://www.researchgate.net/profile/John_Kitchin/publication/264662034_ChemInform_Abstract_Coverage_Dependent_Adsorption_Properties_of_Atomic_Adsorbates_on_Late_Transition_Metal_Surfaces/links/544925b80cf244fe9ea224d5.pdf

 (Miller, S., Dsilva, C., & Kitchin, J. R. (2012). Coverage dependent adsorption properties of atomic adsorbates on late transition metal surfaces. In Catalysis (pp. 83-115).)

Good luck in your research

Milan

Article Adsorption, chemisorption, and catalysis

Article ChemInform Abstract: Coverage Dependent Adsorption Propertie...