One good example of surface science is thin-films, such as what might be on your glasses for anti-reflective coating or anti-scratch or UV. Materials exhibit different properties at the surfaces than in the “bulk” areas (middles) because they interface with environments.
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It’s a series by Klaus Wandelt who wanted to publish a textbook on surface and interface science, a science which he says which is approximately 40 years old in its current form, but realized one volume couldn’t do it so it’s now up to 10 volumes.
Basically, it’s the study of the surfaces of solid materials and how they interface with vacuums, gases, liquids, dissimilar materials, electricity, etc.
Probably 80% of it is over my head – but for the 20% I understand, I’m enjoying going through them. I’m going out of order – i started with volumes 3+4, now I’m on volume 1.
All but volume 5 it seems is on b-ok (dot) cc which is where I get these things.
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I’m fascinated it because of musical properties such as the interfacing between rosin a bow and a cello for example, (stick/slip which falls into tribology), or my interest in cleaning products (soaps) and glues, which also tie into cooking methods
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