The objective of SURFCAT is to explore and understand the functionality of well-defined surfaces and in particular surfaces of nanoparticles on the atomic level. The main focus is to design nanoparticles with specific functionality towards catalytic processes in the area of heterogeneous-, electro-, and photo-catalysis. Today heterogeneous catalysis forms the basis for industrial chemistry, while electro-and photo-catalysis are areas with huge growth potentials in connection with sustainable energy solutions. The investigations are aiming at understanding how shape, structure, size and composition may influence the functionality such as reactivity for specific processes taking place on surfaces of the nanoparticles. By capitalizing on such fundamental insight is it the hope that we can provide new materials, processes, and solutions that can implemented in future sustainable energy and enviromental protection systems.