High-Energy Beam Surface Engineering and Coatings

High-energy beam-assisted techniques, including laser, electron beam, and ion beam processes, have proven to be highly effective for the fabrication, modification, and enhancement of coatings, thin films, surfaces, and interfaces. The unique characteristics of these directed energy sources—such as high precision, localized energy delivery, and rapid processing—coupled with significant advances in beam control, automation, and in situ monitoring, offer immense potential to tackle contemporary scientific and engineering challenges in surface technology.

Core Research Areas

Topics suitable for this section include the following:

• Laser-Assisted Surface Engineering: Building upon the legacy of the Laser Coatings Section, we prioritize advances in laser cladding, pulsed laser deposition (PLD), laser surface texturing (LIPSS), and ultrashort pulsed laser processing. This includes the modification of polymers, ceramics, and metals to enhance properties such as tribology, fatigue resistance, and wettability.
• Plasma-Enhanced Processes: Integrating the strengths of Plasma Coatings, Surfaces & Interfaces, the journal highlights plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD), magnetron sputtering, and atmospheric plasma treatments. We focus on the evolution of interfaces and the development of high-performance coatings for harsh environments.
• Functional Surface Development: A significant area of focus is "functionalization." This includes creating surfaces with tailored bioactivity, antimicrobial properties, catalytic efficiency, and specific electrical or optical conductivities.
• Biomaterial Surfaces and Coatings: The journal promotes the use of high-energy beams to improve medical devices, control degradability, and enhance biocompatibility and interactions with biological fluids and tissues.
• Surface Modification for Environmental Applications: Suitable topics for this section include the development of surfaces for environmental remediation, such as photocatalytic and separation membranes, and surface enhancement to add value to recycled materials and circular economy components.
• Modeling and Simulation: We seek submissions exploring mathematical modeling, thermomechanical analysis, and multiscale simulations that provide deeper insights into the rapid solidification and non-equilibrium phases typical of high-energy beam processing.