Core course for students in Material Science and Engineering, Nano-scale characterization of materials. Basic science behind solid state characterization. Elements of modern physics. Optical microscope. Neutron scattering. Infrared and Raman spectroscopy. Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy. NMR. X-ray diffraction. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Auger Electron Spectroscopy. SEM, TEM, STEM and STM.