Introduction to interfaces
Abstract
In this chapter surface chemistry is distinguished from bulk solid-state behavior. A direct analogy is made to chemistry that occurs with nanometer scale particles. Surfaces are interfaces between condensed matter and gas phase matter. So, in many situations the ideal example of a vacuum in contact with a crystalline solid is used as a starting point. Interfaces occur when two condensed phases come into contact, and understanding interfacial phenomena is just an extrapolation of vacuum/crystalline surface chemistry.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Adsorption
diffusion
and thermodynamic properties of materials
Surface and Thin Film Phenomena
Surface Chemistry and Catalysis
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Institute of Physics eBooks
- Pages
- 1–1
- Publication date
- 1 February 2026
- Language
- EN
- Document type
- Book chapter