Third edition of this excellent textbook for advanced students 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. <br>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.<br>In this third edition, new topics such as second harmonic generation spectroscopy, surface diffusion mechanisms and measurement of surface diffusion, optical spectroscopy of surfaces, atomic layer deposition, superlubricity, bioadhesion, and spin coating, have been added. The discussion of liquid surfaces, Marangoni effect, electric double layer, measurement of surface forces, wetting, adsorption, and experimental techniques have been updated. The number and variety of exercises has been increased, and the references are up to date.<br><br>'... highly recommended [...] as an introduction to a fascinating and multi-facetted field of research and technology.' (Advanced Materials on a previous edition)<br>