Development of advanced materials (including nanomaterials) for energy harvesting, conversion and storage, as well as for nanoelectronic devices require advanced characterization techniques and state-of-the-art instrumentation. Often, important material properties and functionalities are realized by developing and exploiting understanding of fundamental phenomena at surfaces and interfaces, which in turn requires characterization capabilities suitable for probing these regions. In this presentation, I will provide an introduction to the surface and interface science characterization capabilities that I have used and developed at LLNL, University of Wisconsin Madison (UWM) and University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV). This introduction is coupled with an overview of research projects for which I have been acted as the principle investigator or a prominent co-investigator, often providing instrumentation/technique development and support. These projects focus upon the investigation of material structure and composition critical to materials development for a variety of applications: energy (hydrogen, Li-ion) storage, energy-efficient lighting, catalysts, and nanoelectronic (including bio-mimetic) devices. For example, I will present the results of a project focused upon carbon-based nanomaterials for hydrogen storage. We are the first group to experimentally investigate the decoration of transition (Ti) and alkaline (Li) metal on the surface of carbon nanostructures (carbon nanotube, fullerene) to enhance their hydrogen storage properties. Using a combination of x-ray and ultra-violet photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS and UPS), and scanning probe microscopy (SPM), I will demonstrate that oxygen interference is a serious obstacle for the hydrogen storage applications of these hybrid materials. A practical approach to remedy the issue has been proposed and will be presented. Furthermore, fundamental oxidation and reduction dynamics of Ti atoms on the surface of single-walled carbon nanotubes will be discussed.