The laboratories contain a computer-controlled Langmuir-Blodgett film trough, a diffusion apparatus, laser interferometer, microscopes, wo surface plasmon spectrometers (SPR), a FTIR spectrometer, an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM), a near field optical microscope, and a UV-visible spectrometer are available for thin film characterization. A polarized-light microscope with a computer-based image analysis system is also available for the study of liquid crystals at surfaces. Properties routinely measured include solubility, critical micellar concentrations, surface tensions, adsorption iso therms, surface elec trical potential, conductivity, viscosity and macro-scopic equilibrium phase behaviors. Quasi-elastic and classical light scattering are used to investigate the equilibrium structures and dynamic properties of molecular assemblies in solution. Electrochemical methods (e.g., linear sweep cyclic voltammetry) are used to investigate dynamic processes in solution.