The position and advantages of FT-IR among other analytical techniques are discussed, especially in the surface and microanalyses. Two typical examples of FT-IR applications being done recently in our laboratories are presented. Molecular orientation and surface morphology of mechanically rubbed polyimide films used for the alignment layer of liquid crystal display have been extensively studied by FT-IR, ellipsometry and atomic force microscope (AFM). Molecular orientation of rubbed polyimide films tends to saturate with increasing the rubbing density, while the surface roughness is proportional to the rubbing density. A good relationship has been found between IR dichroic ratios and pretilt angle of liquid crystal molecules. Kinetic behavior of a fast photochemical reaction of quinone diazide-type photoresist has been followed directly by a rapid-scan FT-IR.