Dear Colleagues,

Porous thin films can be designed and engineered experimentally. The technological capability of controlling the size, shape, orientation and density of pores is well developed. The chemistry of the pore walls can be altered for various tasks. Extensive experimental studies have been devoted to the characterization of pores surfaces from various viewpoints such as atomic structure, defects and chemical bonds. Nevertheless, basic understanding of the effect of the surface of the pores on the physical, chemical and biological processes occurring inside the pores that yield unique properties, is less known.

This Special Issue aims to provide more knowledge about the unique properties that can only be obtained in porous thin films and expand understanding of the effect of the surface of the pores in obtaining such properties. A large variety of subjects are relevant to this issue, such as utilization of the surface energy of pores, their size and shape to grow crystals with preferred crystallographic orientation under special conditions, to promote special interactions between materials, to create unique composite materials to form new materials with respect to microstructure and chemical compositions, to change phase transition conditions and more. There is no limitation on the type of property that is presented, provided it is unique. In this respect, all properties are relevant, e.g., optical, electrical, magnetic, dielectric, mechanical and biological properties. There are many fabrication processes of porous thin films which are important but they should be correlated with the properties. The Special Issue is open to experimental studies as well as theoretical models. Only new research results will be accepted for publication after the peer review and processing.

Prof. Dr. Shlomo Berger
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• Porous thin films
• Unique properties of porous thin films
• Effect of the surface energy of pores on chemical and physical processes occurring inside them
• Correlation between microstructures
• Composition and properties of porous thin films