Recent developments in surface spectroscopic techniques and their applicati
ons to adsorbed films are reviewed. Attention is focused on vibrational spe
ctroscopy, including sum-frequency spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared
spectroscopy and Raman scattering. Systems most relevant to colloid and in
terface science are emphasised, though related systems of interest are also
mentioned. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.