Ytskiktsvetenskap

Ytskiktsvetenskap, or surface science, is the study of physical and chemical phenomena that occur at surfaces and interfaces, typically at the outermost atomic layers of solids and at the boundaries between different phases such as solid–gas, solid–liquid, or solid–solid. The field seeks to understand how surfaces differ from bulk materials and how surface properties influence processes, stability, and performance in real-world environments. It integrates chemistry, physics, materials science and engineering to analyze adsorption, reactions, electronic structure and mechanical behavior at interfaces.

Key subfields include surface chemistry, which examines adsorption, catalysis and reactions at interfaces; surface physics, focusing on electronic structure, work function and surface states; tribology, which studies friction and wear; corrosion science; thin-film and coating science; and catalysis on surfaces. The discipline also covers surface characterization and imaging using techniques such as scanning probe microscopy (STM and AFM), photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), and spectroscopic ellipsometry, as well as complementary methods like contact angle measurement and diffraction techniques.

Applications span catalysis, semiconductor and microelectronics fabrication, protective coatings and adhesion, sensors, energy storage and conversion, and corrosion prevention. The field increasingly relies on computational modeling, notably density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics, to predict surface structure and reactions and guide experiments.

A brief history notes that surface science emerged from early adsorption studies and advances in vacuum techniques in the mid-20th century, with rapid growth alongside powerful surface characterization tools. Today it remains a multidisciplinary core for developing new materials and technologies.