表面电荷即在界面处存在的电荷。有很多过程可以使表面带电，比如离子吸附、质子化或去质子化、表面的化学基团发生电离、外加电场。表面电荷会产生电场，使粒子之间有排斥或吸引的相互作用，这是很多胶体性质的成因。

物体处于流体中一般都会带上电荷。几乎所有的流体都会含有离子，包括正离子（阳离子）和负离子（阴离子），离子与表面会有相互作用，导致有离子吸附到物体表面。

另外一个表面电荷的机制是，表面的化学基团发生电离。

Surface charge is the electrical potential difference between the inner and outer surface of the dispersed phase in a colloid. There are many different processes which can lead to a surface being charged, including adsorption of ions, protonation/deprotonation, and the application of an external electric field. Surface charge causes a particle to emit an electric field, which causes particle repulsion and attraction, affecting many colloidal properties.