Contact:
Prof John Watts

Principal Group Members - Profiles & Publications:
Dr Marie-Laure Abel
Dr Mark Baker
Dr Steven Hinder
Prof John Watts
Dr Peter Zhdan

The Surface Analysis Laboratory at the University of Surrey contains the most complete cluster of surface instrumentation for X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS), scanning Auger microscopy (SAM) and scanning probe microscopy (SPM) certainly in Europe, and perhaps in the world. The installed capital value of this instrumentation is of the order of £3 million and new state-of-the-art instruments for scanning probe microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy have recently been installed.

The Surface and Interface Reactions Group, comprising 30 academics and researchers, is concerned with understanding the manner in which materials surfaces interact with each other and their environments. Such interactions may enhance their performance, as in the pre-treatment of polymers, protective coatings and polymer to metal adhesion, or be deleterious as in the case of metallic corrosion and environmental degradation of materials. The research group has experience of studying the surfaces and interfaces of a vast range of materials used in diverse industrial sectors such as power generation, aerospace, electronics, tooling, pharmaceuticals, etc.