Surface analysis with the capability of trace analysis and micro-area analysis has played an important role in scientific research. However, a diverse range of problems is difficult to dissolve by specific characterized techniques. Developing a suitable strategy containing of various analytical methods to study specific topic is useful in many fields. In this thesis, the ancient antiques from Han Dynasty (漢朝), Nan-Dan (南丹) iron meteorite, and polyelectrolyte microcapsules are investigated by modern analytical techniques, especially ToF-SIMS. Han Dynasty is one of the most splendid times in Chinese culture. The manufacturing technology to art antiques in Han Dynasty is excellent in ancient China. Characterization of the objects though modern analytical techniques, such as XRF, ICP-MS and ToF-SIMS, is helpful to reveal the ancient wisdom and confirm the authenticity. The object was divided to two portions: (1) the lion consists of Cu/Zn alloy with a 20-30 贡m Ni layer for anticorrosion purpose; (2) the seal consists of a Pb base with a 225 贡m Cu layer and a 25汹贡m Ni layer on the topmost surface. Combination of ToF-SIMS and ICP-MS proved the gold exists on the lion surface and possibly deposited by ancient Chinese Liujin method. An identifying protocol for ancient antiques was established in this study for archaeology to discover the ancient technique and supply further information. Nan-Dan iron meteorites, well known iron meteorites in the world, have been studied by various methods to identify the property, structure and composition. However, discovering the distribution of specific composition is difficulty due to the small size, wide concentration range, and unknown composition. In this study, the meteorite is investigated by SEM, ESCA and ToF-SIMS to acquire the morphology, chemical state and chemical ion images. Iron is distinguished to exist in three main types and the complex of iron binding with C, Si and Cl. Some nubbles with Cr shell were discovered by ion images. Both aggregations with Cu and Al/Si dominant textures display in the core area of these nubbles. This work contributes some fresh knowledge on Nan-Dan iron meteorites and demonstrates new application of ToF-SIMS. Engineered polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) films of polyallylamine hydrochloride (PAH) and polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) assembled on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate as well as PEM microcapsules of PAH and PSS templated onto polystyrene latex were fabricated by layer-by-layer assembly and characterized by various analytical techniques. The characteristic ion intensities from the respective outermost layer obtained by ToF-SIMS accorded well with the layer composition. The S and C8H7SO3 ion intensities were higher in PSS layers; whereas Cl ion intensity was higher in PAH layers. The SEM image displayed morphology which involved electrostatic interactions during the formation of multilayer. AFM measurement showed the shell thickness of PEM microcapsules as 1.21 nm. ToF-SIMS total ion, S ion, and Cl ion images were useful to delineate the PEM microcapsules location and to indicate successful assembly. The results demonstrated for the first time the feasibility of label-free ToF-SIMS imaging of PEM microcapsules.