Preface: Surface Science of functional oxides

Metal oxides, in particular their surfaces and interfaces, are of paramount importance in many areas of chemistry, physics, and technology, including heterogeneous/environmental/photo-catalysis and power generation by fuel cells. The atomic and electronic structure at the surface is often considerably different from a simple truncation of the bulk. When the thickness of oxides reaches the sub-10 nm range, their physical, (electro-)chemical, electrical, or magnetic properties generally deviate from the bulk characteristics. Modified oxides (mixed, doped, multicomponent oxides; metal contacts) play an even more prominent role in technology. When oxides are employed in technological processes, i.e., act as "functional oxides", exposure to a gaseous or liquid environment further modifies their structure and thus their properties. Future advances in oxide-based technologies rely on a fundamental understanding of the surface chemistry and physics of the involved materials, and on identifying structure-function relationships.