Announcements

Peer reviewing is an essential part of the publication process, ensuring that Coatings (ISSN: 2079-6412) maintains its high standards for the quality of published papers. We wish to recruit expert reviewers to help uphold the quality and efficiency of Coatings.

To qualify as a reviewer, applicants must have published several papers related to the topics covered by Coatings in the last 5 years and must hold a Ph.D. degree. You may check the “Peer Review” element in the MDPI Editorial Process for details related to reviewers by using the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/editorial_process. For example, reviewers should hold no conflicts of interest with any of the authors, reviewers should work for an official and recognized academic institution, etc.

We will extend the following benefits to reviewers:

• Reviewers will receive a discount voucher code based on review quality;
• Reviewers will be included in the journal’s annual acknowledgment of reviewers (example: https://www.mdpi.com/about/announcements/10621);
• Reviewers will be considered for the Coatings Outstanding Reviewer Award, details of which can be found at https://www.mdpi.com/journal/coatings/awards/3204;
• Reviewers can build their profiles on Publons and have their reviewing activity automatically added for participating journals, and Publons profiles can be integrated into ORCID.

For more information, please visit the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/reviewers.

If you are interested in this position, please submit your application at https://susy.mdpi.com/volunteer/journals/review.

We hope that you will join our team of reviewers. After your registration is approved, you will see a list of manuscripts that require reviewers.

If you have any other questions, please contact the Coatings Editorial Office (coatings@mdpi.com). We look forward to hearing from you.

In collaboration with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Sustainability (ISSN: 2071-1050) and Coatings (ISSN: 2079-6412) are hosting a Scientific Publishing Workshop designed to educate attendees on the paper publication process and the ecosystem surrounding open access publishing. This session will cover a comprehensive introduction to the editorial process, providing valuable insights and instilling essential skills for structuring papers and replying to reviewers effectively. Additionally, participants will be instructed on methods to improve their scientific writing, with experts in the field leading the session to ensure a thorough understanding of how to escalate their publishing potential.

Date: 22 April 2025
Time: 13:00–17:00
Venue: ST602, Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Registration: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CF2VSH6

Schedule:

Profile:

	Prof. Xungai Wang (Chair)	Prof. Wang is Chair Professor of Fiber Science and Technology and a Global STEM Scholar at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He also serves as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the Textile Institute.
	Ms. Sally Li MDPI Journal Development Editor	Ms. Sally (Sijia) Li graduated from the University of Sydney and joined MDPI in 2019. Previously served as Assistant Editor for Sustainability and Managing Editor for Urban Science, JTAER, and Hardware. Currently working as the Journal Development Editor for Sustainability and Head of Marketing Events. Based in MDPI’s Hong Kong office, responsible for market expansion and scholar services in the Greater Bay Area. She is committed to providing researchers with efficient and professional publishing support.
	Mr. Caleb Snider MDPI Deputy PR Director	Mr. Caleb Snider holds a Master’s degree in the Study of Religion from the University of Toronto, another Master’s degree in English Literature from the University of Ottawa, and a post-graduate certificate in publishing from Humber College, Toronto. He joined MDPI in 2017 as an English Editor, and in 2020 was chosen to help found MDPI’s first North American office in Toronto, Canada as Deputy Operations Manager. In April 2022, he was promoted to Operations Manager of the Toronto office and oversaw the strategic planning and implementation of operational initiatives across the United States and Canada. In 2024, he was promoted to Public Affairs and Strategic Partnership Manager, engaging directly with both high-level institutional and government stakeholders in the Asia Pacific and individual scholars on a grassroots level in the Asia Pacific region.
	Ms. Tonia Yang MDPI Deputy Section Leader (overseas)	Ms. Tonia Yang graduated from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Currently, she serves as Chief Section Managing Editor of Coatings journal and the Deputy Section Leader (overseas) of MDPI Section “Materials Sciences”. Her main responsibilities include the operation of international cooperation projects for the Section “Materials Sciences” and the management of overseas employees in Romania, Poland, Serbia, Spain, the UK, and other regions. Deeply committed to facilitating a productive exchange between editorial teams and scholars, Ms. Yang endeavors to offer customized, top-notch publishing services to enhance the journal’s standing within the international academic community.

MDPI is excited to announce its participation as an exhibitor at the 15th International Conference on Surface Engineering, which will be held in Tianjin, China, from 9 to 11 May 2025.

The conference will be hosted by the Surface Engineering Branch of the Chinese Society of Mechanical Engineering, and the theme will be “Surface Engineering Technology Innovation to Promote the Development of New Quality Productivity”.

As the most influential academic conference in the field of surface engineering in China, the National Surface Engineering Conference has been successfully held for 14 consecutive sessions. Previous conferences have attracted many domestic experts, scholars and technicians engaged in surface engineering research, teaching, and engineering applications, and the success of the conference has played a very important role in promoting the development of China’s surface engineering discipline and the technological progress of related industries.

The following MDPI journals will be present at the conference:

• Coatings;
• Lubricants;
• Metals.

If you are planning to attend the conference, we would love to connect with you! Our delegates are eager to meet you in person and answer any questions that you may have. For more details about the conference, please visit the following website: https://2025.bmgc.cn/. We look forward to seeing you there!

Conference: The First National Conference on Surface and Interface Science of the Chinese Chemical Society
Date: 9–12 May 2025
Location: Chengdu, China

MDPI will attend the First National Conference on Surface and Interface Science of the Chinese Chemical Society as an exhibitor. This meeting will be held in Chengdu, China, from 9 to 12 May 2025. This conference will comprise 22 sub-forums on topics such as surface interface construction, surface interface characterization, surface interface theory, device surface interfaces, energy surface interfaces, and catalytic surface interfaces. It will also include the “International Forum on Surface Molecules”, the “Forum for Women Scientists on Surface Interfaces”, and the “Ph.D. Forum on Surface Interfaces”. During the conference, the “Workshop on Surface Interface Science” will take place, inviting renowned experts and scholars to give lectures on three cutting-edge topics in surface interface science.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Coatings;
• Colloids and Interfaces;
• Lubricants;
• Molecules;
• Surfaces;
• Applied Nano;
• Construction Materials;
• Materials;
• Sensors.

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at our booth and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.chemsoc.org.cn/meeting/NCSI1/a6362.html.

Conference: The 2025 Spring Meeting of the European Materials Research Society (E-MRS)
Date: 26–30 May 2025
Location: Strasbourg, France

MDPI will attend the 2025 Spring Meeting of the European Materials Research Society (E-MRS) as an exhibitor. This meeting will be held in Strasbourg, France, from 26 to 30 May 2025.

The 2025 Spring Meeting of the European Materials Research Society (E-MRS) is organized by the European Materials Research Society and Foundation Jean-Marie Lehn.

The focus of the scientific program will be both on fundamental investigations and technological applications, providing an international forum for discussing recent advances relating to the different aspects of the promotion of innovation.

Topics include the following:

• Materials for photonics and electronics;
• Nanocomposites and hybrid materials;
• Materials for sustainable energy;
• Advanced characterization and computational design;
• Ecological and biomaterials.

The following MDPI journals will be represented:

• Materials;
• Nanomaterials;
• Applied Nano;
• C;
• Crystals;
• CMD;
• Coatings;
• Construction Materials;
• Fibers;
• Molecules;
• Nanomanufacturing;
• Symmetry.

If you are attending this conference, please feel free to start an online conversation with us. Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at booth #28 and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.european-mrs.com/meetings/2025-spring-meeting.

MDPI is pleased to share a significant milestone in its mission to advance scholarly research and promote the dissemination of knowledge—300+ MDPI journals are now indexed in Web of Science (WoS). This milestone highlights the global recognition, interdisciplinary impact and enhanced visibility of our journals. It also reflects our adherence to rigorous editorial standards, scientific integrity, and our mission to foster open scientific exchange in all forms, across all disciplines. 

To explore the full list of our journals indexed in WoS, please visit https://www.mdpi.com/about/journals/wos. Beyond expanding the coverage of our publications in the leading academic databases, we are dedicated to ensuring that our journals are included in as many scope-specific databases as possible. This increases the visibility of our authors’ work and extends the reach of their significant data. 

This milestone would not have been possible without the efforts and expertise of our academic editors, reviewers and authors. Their commitment and collaboration have been instrumental in creating an inclusive, accessible, and impactful publishing platform. We also extend our gratitude to the global research community for their trust as we continue to break new ground in academic publishing. This milestone is not just a celebration of MDPI’s progress but also recognition of the collective strides made by researchers worldwide. 

As we celebrate this remarkable accomplishment, MDPI remains steadfast in its commitment to open access publishing and ensuring that high-quality research reaches and inspires a global audience.

We are delighted to present a list of title story articles selected for display at the top of the Coatings (ISSN: 2079-6412) homepage for the second half of 2024. These articles cover a wide range of topics, including polymeric coatings, tribological properties, surface wettability, femtosecond laser modification, sputter deposition, hydrophobic coatings, plasma deposition, antifouling coatings, PVD and CVD, and wear resistant, to name a few. We hope you will find something of interest among these exceptional publications.

1. “The Use of Polyurethane Composites with Sensing Polymers as New Coating Materials for Surface Acoustic Wave-Based Chemical Sensors—Part II: Polyurethane Composites with Polylaurylmetacrylate, Polyisobutene, and Poly(chlorotrifluoroethylene-co-vinylidene Fluoride): Coating Results, Relative Sensor Responses and Adhesion Analysis”
by Mauro dos Santos de Carvalho, Michael Rapp, Achim Voigt and Marian Dirschka
Coatings 2024, 14(7), 778; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14070778
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/14/7/778

2. “Tribological Properties and Surface Wettability of Coatings Produced on the Mg-AZ31B Alloy by Plasma Electrolytic Oxidation”
by Mateusz Niedźwiedź, Marek Bara, Joanna Korzekwa, Sławomir Kaptacz, Maciej Sowa, Aleksander Olesiński and Wojciech Simka
Coatings 2024, 14(7), 780; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14070780
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/14/7/780

3. “Characterization of Mechanical Properties and Surface Wettability of Epoxy Resin/Benzoxazine Composites in a Simulated Acid Rain Environment”
by Poom Narongdej, Riley Gomez, Daniel Tseng, Ehsan Barjasteh and Sara Moghtadernejad
Coatings 2024, 14(10), 1279; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14101279
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/14/10/1279

4. “Laser Control of Specular and Diffuse Reflectance of Thin Aluminum Film-Isolator-Metal Structures for Anti-Counterfeiting and Plasmonic Color Applications”
by Michał P. Nowak, Bogusz Stępak, Mateusz Pielach, Yuriy Stepanenko, Tomasz Wojciechowski, Bartosz Bartosewicz, Urszula Chodorow, Marcin Jakubaszek, Przemysław Wachulak and Piotr Nyga
Coatings 2024, 14(10), 1298; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14101298
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/14/10/1298

5. “First-Principles Study on the Influence of Crystal Structures on the Interface Properties of Graphene/Titanium Composites”
by Xiuli Han, Rui Wang, Pengchao Kang, Wanying Li and Gaohui Wu
Coatings 2024, 14(10), 1293; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14101293
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/14/10/1293

6. “Biochemical and Microbiological Properties of the Cotton–Copper Composite Material Obtained via Sputter Deposition”
by Małgorzata Świerczyńska, Zdzisława Mrozińska, Michał Juszczak, Katarzyna Woźniak and Marcin H. Kudzin
Coatings 2024, 14(7), 900; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14070900
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/14/7/900

7. “Durable Superhydrophobic Aluminum Surfaces against Immersion and Hot Steam Impact: A Comparative Evaluation of Different Hydrophobization Methods and Coatings”
by Panagiotis Sarkiris, Kosmas Ellinas and Evangelos Gogolides
Coatings 2024, 14(7), 908; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14070908
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/14/7/908

8. “Shrouding Gas Plasma Deposition Technique for Developing Low-Friction, Wear-Resistant WS₂-Zn Thin Films on Unfilled PEEK: The Relationship Between Process and Coating Properties”
by Dietmar Kopp, Christine Bandl, Reinhard Kaindl, Thomas Prethaler, Anna Maria Coclite and Wolfgang Waldhauser
Coatings 2024, 14(11), 1365; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14111365
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/14/11/1365

9. “Review of Progress in Marine Anti-Fouling Coatings: Manufacturing Techniques and Copper- and Silver-Doped Antifouling Coatings”
by Xiaolong Shi, Hua Liang and Yanzhou Li
Coatings 2024, 14(11), 1454; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14111454
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/14/11/1454

10. “Analysis of Wear Mechanisms Under Cutting Parameters: Influence of Double Layer TiAlN/TiN PVD and TiCN/Al₂O₃ Chemical Vapor Deposition-Coated Tools on Milling of AISI D2 Steel”
by Gustavo M. Minquiz, N. E. González-Sierra, Javier Flores Méndez, Ana C. Piñón Reyes, Mario Moreno Moreno, Alfredo Morales-Sánchez, José Alberto Luna López, Zaira Jocelyn Hernandez-Simon and Claudia Denicia Carral
Coatings 2024, 14(12), 1491; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14121491
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/14/12/1491

We are delighted to present a list of title story articles selected for display at the top of the Coatings (ISSN: 2079-6412) homepage for the first half of 2024. These articles cover a wide range of topics, including coatings for energy, laser processing, food packaging, diamond-like carbon coatings, pulsed laser deposition, surface characterization, tribological properties, corrosion, and hard coatings, to name a few. We hope you will find something of interest among these exceptional publications.

1. “Fabrication of Piezoelectric ZnO Nanowires on Laser Textured Copper Substrate to Enhance Catalytic Properties”
by Hongbin Wang, Rui Zhou, Huangping Yan and Hongjun Liu
Coatings 2023, 13(11), 1963; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13111963
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/13/11/1963

2. “Using an Al-Incorporated Deep Black Pigment Coating to Enhance the Solar Absorptance of Iron Oxide-Rich Particles”
by Gözde Alkan, Peter Mechnich and Johannes Pernpeintner
Coatings 2023, 13(11), 1925; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13111925
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/13/11/1925

3. “Mechanisms of Action and Preservation Effects of Packaging Systems for Mushrooms: Novel Approaches to Preserve Irish Edible Mushrooms”
by Tigist Tadesse Shonte, Mehraj Fatema Mulla, Lorraine Foley and Shivani Pathania
Coatings 2024, 14(2), 172; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14020172
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/14/2/172

4. “Study of the Industrial Application of Diamond-Like Carbon Coatings Deposited on Advanced Tool Steels”
by Eneko Barba, Adrián Claver, Francesc Montalà, José F. Palacio, Carmelo J. Luis-Pérez, Neus Sala, Carles Colominas and José Antonio García
Coatings 2024, 14(2), 159; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14020159
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/14/2/159

5. “Bioactivity and Mechanical Properties of Hydroxyapatite on Ti6Al4V and Si(100) Surfaces by Pulsed Laser Deposition”
by Salizhan Kylychbekov, Yaran Allamyradov, Zikrulloh Khuzhakulov, Inomjon Majidov, Simran Banga, Justice ben Yosef, Liviu Duta and Ali Oguz Er
Coatings 2023, 13(10), 1681; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings13101681
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/13/10/1681

6. “Tribocatalytic Reaction Enabled by TiO₂ Nanoparticle for MoDTC-Derived Tribofilm Formation at ta-C/Steel Contact”
by Daiki Matsukawa, Jae-Hyeok Park, Woo-Young Lee, Takayuki Tokoroyama, Jae-Il Kim, Ryoichi Ichino and Noritsugu Umehara
Coatings 2024, 14(6), 773; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14060773
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/14/6/773

7. “Enhancing UV Radiation Resilience of DLC-Coated Stainless Steel with TiO₂: A Dual-Layer Approach”
by Paulo Fabrício Macário, Carolina Hahn da Silveira, Angela Aparecida Moraes Vieira, André Ricardo Marcondes, Francisco das Chagas Marques, Guilhermino José Macêdo Fechine and Lúcia Vieira
Coatings 2024, 14(6), 777; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14060777
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6412/14/6/777

MDPI, a pioneer in scholarly open access publishing, and the Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine (LKCMedicine), Singapore, proudly announce the successful conclusion of the first edition the MDPI Early Career Researcher Awards. The awards, which recognize outstanding contributions to medical and biomedical research, were presented to six exceptional researchers during an awards ceremony held at LKCMedicine HQ Building on 28 November 2024.

Honoring Excellence in Research

The awards recognize exceptional postdoctoral researchers and Ph.D. students who have demonstrated outstanding originality, innovation, and impact in their respective fields. We are honored to announce the winners of the 2024 edition:

Early Career Researcher (Postdoc) Award:

• Dr. Theresia Handayani Mina, “Adiposity and Metabolic Health in Asian Populations: An Epidemiological Study Using Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry in Singapore”;
• Dr. Erfan Rezvani Ghomi, “Wound Healing Improvement by Novel Aligned Antimicrobial Nanofibrous 3D Scaffolds”;
• Dr. Yadollah Ranjbar Slamloo, “Functional Alterations of The Prefrontal Circuit Underlying Cognitive Aging in Mice”.

Early Career Researcher (Ph.D.) Award:

• Pritisha Rozario, “Mechanistic Basis for Potassium Efflux-Driven Activation of the Human NLRP1 Inflammasome”;

• Michelle Law Cheok Yien, “Chikungunya Virus Nonstructural Protein 1 is a Versatile RNA Capping and Decapping Enzyme”;
• Yin Ruoyu, “The Use of Digital Mental Health and Wellbeing Tools in Older Adults: A Mixed Method Study”.

Our collaboration highlights a shared commitment to recognizing exceptional talent and research within the academic community, addressing today’s healthcare challenges, and inspiring continued innovation.

Looking Ahead to 2025

Building on the success of the first edition, MDPI and LKCMedicine are excited to announce that the 2025 MDPI Early Researcher Awards will continue to celebrate excellence and innovation in medical research. The next edition promises to expand its scope, introducing new categories and providing even greater recognition for impactful research.

Further details on the 2025 awards, including nomination criteria and timelines, will be shared in the coming months. We remain committed to fostering a culture of research excellence and collaboration within the global scientific community.