Abstract
This introductory chapter provides an overview of solid surfaces, which are of particular importance in everyday life. Some of the most important areas in which they play a vital role include heterogeneous catalysis and corrosion. The behaviour of surfaces is also crucial in the fields of electrochemistry, photography, colloids, optics, data storage, and, increasingly, in biological applications such as the use of membranes and biosensors. Thus, the study of surfaces and their behaviour requires a wide range of chemical knowledge and understanding. This books assumes a knowledge of the basic principles of physical chemistry, especially kinetics, dynamics, and thermodynamics. The chapter then looks at the single crystal surface, before outlining the techniques for studying surfaces.
