The focus of this book is surface modification, with the goal of tailoring materials for a specific application. By means of this approach, ideal bulk properties of a material, such as its tensile strength (temperature stability, density, or even cost) can be combined with optimized surface properties, such as hardness, biocompatibility, low or high friction or adhesion, water repellency or wettability, or catalytic activity.

The works of the author many of his crucial papers are included deal with the understanding and modification of surfaces and span fields including catalysis, analytical surface science, self-assembled monolayers, tribology, biomaterials, superhydrophobicity and polymer coatings.