Topographical Parameters for Specifying a Three-dimensional Surface

The importance of different surface geometries and thereby the need for versatile surface identification by describing a number of different surface features is emphasized. A set of topographical parameters for the description of the amplitude and spatial and hybrid properties of surfaces was utilized for a versatile three-dimensional surface characterization of sol-gel samples with different topographies. The image data were measured by atomic force microscopy. The results demonstrate the power of the roughness parameters to identify surfaces according to their specific characteristics. An example is also given about how certain surface topographical properties may control the material reactivity.