Résumé
In aqueous medium, solid surfaces are in general electrically charged. The induced electrical and chemical properties govern numerous phenomena, such as colloidal stability or transport of pollutants. Numerous industrial processes make use of these properties. The understanding of the underlying mechanisms at molecular level is of high importance in order to predict and master the behaviour of dispersed matter in the environment and in industrial processes. The present paper shows the evolution of theories and experimental methods, their recent developments and applications.