ABSTRACT
16.1 IntroductionIn this chapter, we will learn the concept of “surface” in the solid phase. In general, surface means the counterpart and the contrasted concept of the word “bulk.” That is, three-dimensional periodic treatment is available in the bulk. The surface is the interface between the vacuum (even in a gas phase) and the solid in which its property will be remarkably different from those in the interior of the matter. The interface is a part of the contact between two pieces of matter. 16.2 Atomic Arrangement at SurfaceIn an ideal surface, such as a clean surface, the atomic arrangement on the plane at the surface is the same as that on the plane in the bulk. By contrast, the arrangement in the clean surface is different from that in a contaminated or dirty surface due to the relaxation and reconstruction processes.
