Introduction

Abstract

The inception of modern surface science, as well as the appearance of the term “surface science” in common use, dates back to the early 1960s, although there were many previous studies of surface phenomena, and many basic theoretical concepts had already been developed (for details see, for example, [1.1, 1.2]). The breakthrough in the field resulted from a combination of factors, including progress in vacuum technology, the development of surface analytical techniques and the appearance of high-speed digital computers. Since then, surface science has undergone great development, which still continues. The milestones in the progress of surface science are reflected in the collections of review articles compiled from the anniversary volumes of the journal Surface Science and entitled Surface Science: The First Thirty Years (1994) [1.3] and Frontiers in Surface and Interface Science (2002) [1.4].