Second edition of this excellent reference work for advanced students (and their teachers) in material science, chemistry, physics, biology, engineering, or for researchers needing background knowledge in surface and interface science. The general yet comprehensive introduction to this field focuses on the essential concepts rather than specific details, on intuitive understanding rather than learning facts. Manifold high-end applications from surface technology, biotechnology, or microelectronics are used to illustrate the basic concepts.
In this new edition, topics such as depletion forces, surface modification by plasma polymerization, principles of lithography, or microemulsions as templates in materials Sciences have been added. The number and variety of exercises has been increased.
.,." The book is well worth a place on the shelf of material scientists and engineers involved in surface phenomena." Materials World, April 2005
.,." [This book] should be considered mandatory reading for someone who wants to join this research area. It is very didactic, clear, concise, and well-organized." ChemPhysChem 5/04
"A general yet comprehensive introduction to surface and interface science, this book focuses on essential concepts, and includes application from biotechnology to micoelectronics."
Materials World, Vol. 12(2), Feb 2004
Hans-JA1/4rgen Butt studied physics at the Universities of Hamburg and GAttingen, Germany. Then he went to the Max-Planck-Institute of Biophysics in Frankfurt. After receiving his PhD in 1989 he went as a postdoc to Santa Barbara, California, and learned using the newly developed atomic force microscope. From 1990-95 he worked asa researcher back in Germany at the Max-Planck-Institute for Biophysics. In 1996 he became associate professor at the University of Mainz. Three years later he moved to Siegen to become full professor for physical chemistry. Only two years later he joined the Max-Planck-Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz.
Karlheinz Graf studied chemistry at the Universities of Erlangen and Mainz, Germany. After receiving his PhD in physical chemistry in 1997, he went as a postdoc to Santa Barbara, California working on physicochemical aspects of myelin and lung surfactant. Back in Mainz he investigated nanostructured lipopolymer films. Scince 2001 he is working on model systems for microsystem technology in the group of Hans-JA1/4rgen Butt at the University of Siegen and the Max-Planck-Institute for Polymer Research.
Michael Kappl studied physics at the University of Regensburg and the Technical University of Munich. He finished his PhD at the Max-Planck-Institute of Biophysics in Frankfurt/Main in 1996. From 1997 - 1998 he did one and a half years of postdoctoral research at the University of Mainz in the group of Hans-JA1/4rgen Butt. From 1998-2000 he worked as a IT consultant at Pallas Soft AG, Regensburg. In 2000, he rejoined the group of HansJA1/4rgen Butt at the University of Siegen. Since the end of 2002 he is project leader at the Max-Planck-Institute for Polymer Research in Mainz.


This second edition of the excellent reference work has been supplemented by such up-to-date topics as depletion forces, surface modification by plasma polymerization, principles of lithography, or inverse gas chromatography, while the number and variety of exercises has been increased.
The text reflects the many facets of this discipline by linking physical fundamentals, especially those taken from thermodynamics, with application-specific topics. Similarly, the theory behind important concepts is backed by clearly explained by scientific-engineering aspects as well as a wide range of high-end applications from microelectronics and biotechnology.
Written to be understood intuitively by those with a general comprehension of the topic, and not burdened by details, this book is aimed at advanced students (and their teachers) in physics, chemistry and material sciences, as well as engineers and natural scientists requiring background knowledge in surface and interface science.