This proposal relates to the structural studies of cationic surfactant adsorption on an iron oxide metal surface. The driving force for the adsorption of cationic surfactants to an oppositely charged surface is the combination of electrostatic attraction between the charge head group and the surface and the hydrophobic interactions between the surfactants¿ chains. The iron oxide layer will provide a constant charge and potential in contrast to a typical Si surface. This is a more realistic representation of everyday surfaces (dirt, hair, clothes etc) coming in contact with surfactants, hence these systems are very important to the synthetic detergent industry.