Surface science.

During the past 15 years, surfaces have been increasingly studied on the atomic scale. As a result, their atomic structure and composition and the dynamics of gas-surface interactions are much better understood. Modern surface science is beginning to have an impact on many technologies. Techniques are readily available to study solid-vacuum and solid-gas interfaces. Studies of solid-liquid and solid-solid interfaces are difficult and appear to be challenging frontier areas of research. Surface science is at the heart of most research and development problems in energy conversion and storage.