Collaborative projects have been established to study the chemistry and topography of surfaces. The morphology of hydroxyapatite coatings that are used to promote bone growth into titanium implants has been characterized using a a scanning probe microscope (SPM). The thickness, composition, and surface morphology of oxide layers in MgF2/Al optical filters were determined using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), sputter profiling, and a SPM. Oxidation states of Au on metal oxide supports were characterized with XPS and related to the activity of the catalyst for oxidation of methane. Corrosion of aluminum surfaces by jelled rocket fuel has been investigated using XPS.