Gabor A. Somorjai, PhD, has been a professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley, since 1964. He is a pioneer in studies of molecular surface chemistry and catalysis science. Dr. Somorjai is a member of both the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is the recipient of the National Medal of Science, the Wolf Prize in Chemistry, and the Priestley Medal as well as the Peter Debye Award and several other ACS awards.

Yimin Li, PhD, is an Associate Specialist in the Department of Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley. His current research interests include the oxidation of nanoparticles, the compensation effect in heterogeneous catalysis, and sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy at interfaces.

Describes the present state of modern surface science, and is also a reference source for data and concepts related to properties of surfaces and interfaces. Focuses on the qualities of solid-gas and solid-vacuum interfaces. Discusses local attributes of surface atoms and molecules, atomic structures, chemical bonding, absorptions, catalysis and mechanical properties. Presents molecular understanding of surface phenomena and relates it to macroscopic surface properties.