surface excess amount

symbol: nσ
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.09292
For an interface, the difference between the amount of component actually present in the system and that which would be present (in a reference system) if the bulk concentration in the adjoining phases were maintained up to a chosen geometrical dividing surface (Gibbs dividing surface).
Note: For a solid/liquid interface in which no component of the liquid phase penetrates into the solid, the surface excess (or adsorption) of component i is defined as; niσ=niVlcil, where ni is the total amount of i in the system, Vl is the volume of an arbitrarily chosen amount of bulk liquid (in the framework of the so-called algebraic method), and cil is its bulk concentration in the liquid.
Source:
PAC, 2020, 92, 1781. (Glossary of methods and terms used in surface chemical analysis (IUPAC Recommendations 2020)) on page 1816 [Terms] [Paper]