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Feature Papers in 'Surface Sciences and Technology' Section, 3rd Edition

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Surface Sciences and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2025 | Viewed by 7510

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Physics, Faculty of Science Division I, Tokyo University of Science, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8601, Japan
Interests: nonlinear optics; optical spectroscopy; exciton physics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce the publication of a topic Special Issue, "Feature Papers in 'Surface Sciences and Technology' Section, 3rd Edition". The “Surface Sciences and Technology” section covers interdisciplinary research on surfaces and interfaces. We invite you to contribute a peer-reviewed, comprehensive review or original research paper for possible publication in this Special Issue. The subject areas of the Special Issue are as follows:

  • Coatings;
  • Thin and thick films;
  • Surface tension;
  • Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy;
  • Scanning probe microscopy;
  • Functional surfaces;
  • Surface nanotechnology and devices;
  • Semiconductors - surface and interface;
  • Biointerfaces;
  • Surface electrochemistry;
  • Surface science applied to energy conversion and storage;
  • Surface science of catalysis (photocatalysis, electrocatalysis);
  • Surface nonlinear optics;
  • Surface plasmon;
  • Exotic surfaces such as meta-surface or topological surface state.

Prof. Dr. Eiji Tokunaga
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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. Applied Sciences 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 2400 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.

Keywords

  • coatings
  • thin and thick films
  • functional surfaces
  • surface electrochemistry

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 1249 KiB  
Article
Impact of Electromagnetic Field on the Physicochemical Properties, Permeability, and Accumulation of Salicylic Acid
by Karolina Zyburtowicz-Ćwiartka, Anna Nowak, Anna Muzykiewicz-Szymańska, Łukasz Kucharski, Maciej Konopacki, Rafał Rakoczy and Paula Ossowicz-Rupniewska
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(13), 7606; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15137606 - 7 Jul 2025
Viewed by 304
Abstract
Transdermal drug delivery offers a non-invasive route for the systemic and localized administration of therapeutics; however, the skin’s barrier function limits its efficiency. This study investigates the application of various electromagnetic field (EMF) configurations to enhance the transdermal delivery of salicylic acid, a [...] Read more.
Transdermal drug delivery offers a non-invasive route for the systemic and localized administration of therapeutics; however, the skin’s barrier function limits its efficiency. This study investigates the application of various electromagnetic field (EMF) configurations to enhance the transdermal delivery of salicylic acid, a model compound with moderate lipophilicity and ionizability. Samples were exposed to pulsed, oscillating, static, and rotating magnetic fields, and their effects on physicochemical properties, thermal stability, skin permeation, and accumulation were evaluated. Structural analyses (FTIR, XRD) and thermal assessments (TGA, DSC) confirmed that EMF exposure did not alter the chemical structure or stability of salicylic acid. In vitro transdermal studies using porcine skin and Franz diffusion cells revealed that pulsed magnetic fields—especially with a 5 s on/5 s off cycle—and rotating magnetic fields at 30–50 Hz significantly enhanced drug permeation compared to controls. In contrast, static fields of negative polarity increased skin retention, suggesting their potential for controlled, localized delivery. These findings demonstrate that EMFs can be used as tunable, non-destructive tools to modulate drug transport across the skin and support their integration into transdermal delivery systems aimed at optimizing therapeutic profiles. Full article
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15 pages, 10114 KiB  
Article
Effect of Grain Size and Incidence Angle on Erosive Wear of Polyurea Coating
by Justyna Sokolska and Piotr Sokolski
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(13), 7568; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15137568 - 5 Jul 2025
Viewed by 418
Abstract
This study investigated the erosive wear of a polyurea coating with a hardness of 95 ShA and a thickness of 3 mm applied to a 3 mm thick plate made of S235 steel. The process of erosive wear was carried out using a [...] Read more.
This study investigated the erosive wear of a polyurea coating with a hardness of 95 ShA and a thickness of 3 mm applied to a 3 mm thick plate made of S235 steel. The process of erosive wear was carried out using a stream of compressed air containing abrasive grains of aluminum oxide (Al2O3). The erosive wear was studied using different incidence angles (45°, 60° and 90°) and erosive grain sizes. Thus, the effects of the incidence angle and erosive grain size on the erosive wear of the polyurea coating were analyzed. Erosive wear was determined as linear wear: the depth of the wear trace was measured using an optical profilometer. This study showed a non-linear correlation between erosive wear, incidence angle and erosive particle size. In addition, a qualitative study of the surface of the coating after a wear test was carried out using a scanning electron microscope, which made it possible to describe the mechanisms of erosive wear of the polyurea coating. Full article
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19 pages, 3609 KiB  
Article
The Influence of a Biopolymer Coating on Selected Surface Properties of Soilless Substrates Made from Coconut Fibre
by Maciej Balawejder, Natalia Matłok, Małgorzata Szostek and Maciej Kuboń
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(13), 7039; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15137039 - 23 Jun 2025
Viewed by 314
Abstract
Horticultural substrates based on coconut fibre are among the most commonly used growing media, but with limited durability. This study presents methods for modifying coconut fibre through surface coating with biopolymers, where polymerisation was initiated in the applied solution. Additionally, the suitability of [...] Read more.
Horticultural substrates based on coconut fibre are among the most commonly used growing media, but with limited durability. This study presents methods for modifying coconut fibre through surface coating with biopolymers, where polymerisation was initiated in the applied solution. Additionally, the suitability of adding pelletised biochar was analysed. A biomonomer derived from wood processing was used both for fibre surface modification and for binding biochar into pellets. Surface modification through biopolymer coating resulted in changes to selected physicochemical properties. It was found that the coating significantly altered the porosity of the substrate. Depending on the type of coconut fibre, the differences in porosity compared to the unmodified substrate ranged from 12 to 24%. This directly influenced bulk density, which is a crucial parameter in the preparation of substrates for plant growth. The surface properties of the modified substrates also affected sorption and retention capacities. From the perspective of plant production, the supply of bioavailable forms of potassium and phosphorus is essential. Coating and the addition of pelletised biochar, regardless of the type of fibre used, significantly increased the release of PO43− and K+ compared to unmodified substrates. The physiological parameters in plants confirmed the suitability of the modified substrates for plant production. Full article
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15 pages, 3599 KiB  
Article
Electrochemically Engineered Mesoporous Sn-Oxide Rods for Anode Materials in Lithium-Ion Batteries
by Woo-Jin Lee, Yu-Jeong Min and Heon-Cheol Shin
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(11), 6026; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15116026 - 27 May 2025
Viewed by 440
Abstract
Sn-based anodes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) offer high capacity and low cost; however, significant volume changes during lithiation/delithiation cause mechanical degradation, limiting their practical applications. Microstructural control is a key approach to mitigating these volume changes. This study reports the fabrication of core [...] Read more.
Sn-based anodes for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) offer high capacity and low cost; however, significant volume changes during lithiation/delithiation cause mechanical degradation, limiting their practical applications. Microstructural control is a key approach to mitigating these volume changes. This study reports the fabrication of core (Sn rod)-shell (mesoporous Sn-oxide layer) structures through electrodeposition followed by anodization, and their applications to anode active materials for LIBs. First, micro-Sn rods with controlled lengths and diameters were fabricated under various electrodeposition conditions. The electrodeposited Sn exhibited a dendritic structure with short secondary rods branching from a long primary rod. While the primary Sn rod diameters remained constant, the secondary rod diameters varied depending on electrodeposition parameters. Notably, rod coarsening due to secondary rod agglomeration occurred at higher currents and longer deposition durations during galvanostatic electrodeposition. In contrast, potentiostatic electrodeposition prevented agglomeration and increased the quantity of Sn rods with voltage. Subsequently, the core-shell structures were fabricated by anodizing Sn rods, forming mesoporous Sn-oxide layers with different pore sizes and pore wall thicknesses. Electrochemical characterization revealed that the core-shell anode performance for LIBs varied with the Sn-oxide shell’s microstructure. These findings provide insights into optimal core-shell structures to improve anode performance for LIBs. Full article
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16 pages, 7531 KiB  
Article
Mg-Doped Carbonated Hydroxyapatite and Tricalcium Phosphate Anodized Coatings on Titanium Implant Alloys
by Amisha Parekh, Maggie Moore, Amol V. Janorkar and Michael D. Roach
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(24), 11831; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142411831 - 18 Dec 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1204
Abstract
The rising demand for dental and orthopedic implants and their frequent aseptic loosening failure mode necessitate the drive to continue modifying implant surfaces to improve osseointegration outcomes. Plasma-sprayed hydroxyapatite coatings are widely used but are prone to delamination. This study involves a single-step [...] Read more.
The rising demand for dental and orthopedic implants and their frequent aseptic loosening failure mode necessitate the drive to continue modifying implant surfaces to improve osseointegration outcomes. Plasma-sprayed hydroxyapatite coatings are widely used but are prone to delamination. This study involves a single-step anodization process utilizing a novel electrolyte to produce Mg-doped carbonated hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate-containing coatings on four titanium alloy surfaces. XRD confirmed hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate formation, with FTIR examination revealing carbonate substitutions indicative of bone-like apatite formation in each oxide. SEM analyses revealed micro- and nano-scaled surface features on each oxide. SEM and EDS analyses of the oxide coating cross-sections showed each group to be bi-layered with an inner titanium dioxide-rich layer and an outer hydroxyapatite/tricalcium phosphate-rich layer. The oxide layer adhesion quality was shown to be good on CPTi, TAV, and TiMo α + β implant alloy surfaces. Unfortunately, the anodization process also resulted in an undesirable and embrittling omega phase at the substrate–oxide interface due to the migration of molybdenum into the inner oxide. Nonetheless, the anodized coatings on the CPTi and TAV alloy substrates, which are the most widely used titanium alloys for implant applications, show much potential for improving future patient outcomes. Full article
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14 pages, 6535 KiB  
Article
Electrochemical Corrosion Resistance of Al2O3–YSZ Coatings on Steel Substrates
by Ramona Cimpoeșu, Marian Luțcanu, Alin Marian Cazac, Ionuț Adomniței, Costică Bejinariu, Liviu Andrușcă, Marius Prelipceanu, Lucian-Ionel Cioca, Daniela Lucia Chicet, Ancuța Mirela Radu and Nicanor Cimpoeșu
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(23), 10877; https://doi.org/10.3390/app142310877 - 24 Nov 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1200
Abstract
Ceramic materials as coatings are known to have very good corrosion resistance properties compared to metallic or organic coatings, regardless of environmental conditions. The following samples were used for the experiments: an initial steel substrate and Al2O3 + YSZ (12.5%; [...] Read more.
Ceramic materials as coatings are known to have very good corrosion resistance properties compared to metallic or organic coatings, regardless of environmental conditions. The following samples were used for the experiments: an initial steel substrate and Al2O3 + YSZ (12.5%; 25% and 37.5% wt) atmospheric plasma spray-coated samples. The open circuit potential showed similar average values for all samples coated with ceramic layers, which were slightly higher than the potential of the original uncoated sample. The corrosion current densities (icorr) of all plasma jet sputter-coated systems were very similar and significantly lower than those of the original material. Corrosion rates were much lower in the coated systems due to the chemical inertness of the ceramic coatings, particularly alumina- and zirconia-based coatings. It was observed that ceramic layers improve the corrosion resistance of the metallic material, especially at higher percentages of YSZ in the plasma spray-deposited complex layer. The porosity of the sputter-deposited layers reduced their corrosion resistance due to the contact between the electrolyte solution and the metal substrate created by the interconnection of the pores. The complex equivalent electrical circuit chosen for the analysis of the values led to results in accordance with the experimental parameters. Full article
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Review

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15 pages, 2052 KiB  
Review
Application of Areal Topography Parameters in Surface Characterization
by Vesna Alar, Andrej Razumić, Biserka Runje, Ivan Stojanović, Marin Kurtela and Branko Štrbac
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(12), 6573; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15126573 - 11 Jun 2025
Viewed by 525
Abstract
This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of selected 3D surface texture parameters defined by ISO 25178-2, with a focus on their metrological aspects in high-resolution measurements using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The parameters Sa, Sz, Sq, Sdq, and [...] Read more.
This review paper provides a comprehensive overview of selected 3D surface texture parameters defined by ISO 25178-2, with a focus on their metrological aspects in high-resolution measurements using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The parameters Sa, Sz, Sq, Sdq, and Sdr are analyzed in terms of their practical application, sensitivity to measurement conditions, and role in assessing surface functionality. Through a review of the literature and simulations of surface profiles with controlled geometric variations, the study demonstrates how the selected parameters respond to changes in step pitch, step width, slope, and lateral calibration errors. Experimental AFM measurements performed on a certified step height standard further illustrate the impact of calibration on the quality of measurement results. Special emphasis is placed on the importance of evaluating measurement uncertainty. The results confirm the need for rigorous instrument calibration and uncertainty assessment to ensure reliable and comparable surface characterization across different instruments and laboratories. Full article
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34 pages, 4100 KiB  
Review
Crosslinking Approaches for Polyethylene Imine (PEI) and Its Uses in Adsorption of Heavy Metals, Dyes, and Carbon Dioxide
by Ashika Chandra, Ashneel Ajay Singh, Surendra Prasad, Mats R. Andersson and Desta Gedefaw
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(9), 4767; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15094767 - 25 Apr 2025
Viewed by 2567
Abstract
Polyethylene imine (PEI) is a synthetic water-soluble and nitrogen-rich polymer with an ethylene amine repeating unit. It exists in a linear or branched forms and finds applications in various areas. PEI is often chemically modified by crosslinking reactions using molecular and polymeric crosslinkers [...] Read more.
Polyethylene imine (PEI) is a synthetic water-soluble and nitrogen-rich polymer with an ethylene amine repeating unit. It exists in a linear or branched forms and finds applications in various areas. PEI is often chemically modified by crosslinking reactions using molecular and polymeric crosslinkers (e.g., trichlorotriazine, epichlorohydrin, ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether, poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether, etc.) to increase its stability and reduce its water solubility. PEI (pristine/crosslinked) has a strong affinity for metal cations (e.g., Cu2+, Au3+, Pb2+, etc.), where the nitrogen atoms interact with the metal ions, and hence is suitable to remove metals from water with high efficiency. A thin film of crosslinked PEI on substrates can be prepared and finds diverse applications such as in removing metals and dyes, and biofouling prevention in the marine environment. The copper ion, as an example, can be stored (adsorbed) in a thin film of crosslinked PEI on a carbon cloth substrate, which can be released to water by passing an electric current through the film or with an acid treatment. It has also been reported that crosslinked PEI and composite materials can be used for the adsorption of dyes and gases such as CO2 and SO2 from the environment. The performance of pristine/composite/crosslinked PEI in gas, metal ion, and dye adsorption is affected by several factors. The focus of this review is to discuss the different reactions used to crosslink PEI and review the properties of the crosslinked materials and their applications. Studies have shown that the properties of the crosslinked PEI and hence its success in capturing metal ions, dyes, and CO2 is dependent not only on the type of crosslinker but also on the degree of crosslinking. Full article
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