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Accelerated Development of Nanomaterials, Coatings, and Thin Films for Optical...
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Accelerated Development of Nanomaterials, Coatings, and Thin Films for Optical and Electronic Applications

A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Thin Films".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 February 2026 | Viewed by 2080

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Žiga Gosar

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
ELVEZ, Proizvodnja Kabelske Konfekcije in Predelava Plastičnih Mas, d.o.o. (Manufacture of Cable Harnesses and Processing of Plastic), Ulica Antona Tomšiča 35, 1294 Višnja Gora, Slovenia
Interests: mechanical engineering; nonlinear mechanics; plasma; plasma physics; ecotechnology; PECVD; sensors; optical sensors; composite materials; electronic applications

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanomaterials, coatings, and thin films represent the forefront of materials science, offering unprecedented opportunities for innovation in optical and electronic applications. Their unique physical and chemical properties, emerging from nanoscale dimensions and tailored compositions, have revolutionized diverse technological fields. This Special Issue explores the accelerated development of coatings and thin films, focusing on their synthesis, characterization, and application across multiple disciplines.

Thin layers of material are deposited onto a substrate to enhance or modify the transmission, reflection, or absorption of light. The deposition process involves the precise application of the materials onto the substrate, typically using techniques such as physical vapor deposition (PVD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), or spray coatings. Such films and coatings can be used for advanced photonic devices, including efficient solar cells and integrated optical circuits; the surface modification of electrodes, and disposition on electronic packaging substrates. Their integration into flexible electronics, transparent conductive films, and quantum devices holds promise for wearable technology, flexible displays, and energy-efficient computing.

The aim of this Special Issue is to gather a comprehensive collection of research articles that highlight the rapid progress and emerging trends in nanomaterials, coatings, and thin films. We seek to bridge fundamental research with practical applications, addressing key challenges and exploring novel opportunities in optical and electronic technologies.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Deposition techniques;
  • Optical characterization;
  • Electronic device fabrication;
  • Nanostructured materials;
  • Surface functionalization;
  • Thin film growth mechanisms;
  • Semiconductor nanocrystals;
  • Optoelectronic devices.

We look forward to receiving your valuable contribution to this exciting endeavor.

Dr. Žiga Gosar
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. Coatings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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.

Keywords

  • deposition techniques
  • optical characterization
  • electronic device fabrication
  • nanostructured materials
  • surface functionalization
  • thin film growth mechanisms
  • semiconductor nanocrystals
  • optoelectronic devices

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 3562 KiB  
Article
Stabilization of Epitaxial NiO(001) Ultra-Thin Films on Body-Centered-Cubic Ni(001)-p(1x1)O
by Andrea Picone, Franco Ciccacci, Lamberto Duò and Alberto Brambilla
Coatings 2025, 15(5), 507; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15050507 - 23 Apr 2025
Viewed by 169
Abstract
Ultrathin NiO films, ranging from 1 to 16 monolayers (ML) in thickness, have been stabilized via reactive molecular beam epitaxy on the (001) surface of a metastable body-centered cubic (BCC) Ni film. Low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) confirms that NiO grows as a crystalline [...] Read more.
Ultrathin NiO films, ranging from 1 to 16 monolayers (ML) in thickness, have been stabilized via reactive molecular beam epitaxy on the (001) surface of a metastable body-centered cubic (BCC) Ni film. Low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) confirms that NiO grows as a crystalline film, exposing the (001) surface. Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) reveals a slight oxygen excess compared to a perfectly stoichiometric NiO film. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) shows that at low coverages the film exhibits atomically flat terraces, while at higher coverage a “wedding cake” morphology emerges. Scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) reveals a thickness-dependent evolution of the electronic band gap, which increases from 0.8 eV at 3 ML to 3.5 eV at 16 ML. The center of the band gap is approximately 0.2 eV above the Fermi level, indicating that NiO is p-doped. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Accelerated Development of Nanomaterials, Coatings, and Thin Films for Optical and Electronic Applications)
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Review

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47 pages, 12325 KiB  
Review
Crack-Templated Patterns in Thin Films: Fabrication Techniques, Characterization, and Emerging Applications
by Eleonora Sofia Cama, Mariacecilia Pasini, Umberto Giovanella and Francesco Galeotti
Coatings 2025, 15(2), 189; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15020189 - 6 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1547
Abstract
Crack-templated thin films, inspired by naturally occurring patterns such as leaf venation, spider webs, and the networked structure of dried egg white, represent a paradigm shift in the design of functional materials. Traditionally, cracks in coatings are seen as defects to be avoided [...] Read more.
Crack-templated thin films, inspired by naturally occurring patterns such as leaf venation, spider webs, and the networked structure of dried egg white, represent a paradigm shift in the design of functional materials. Traditionally, cracks in coatings are seen as defects to be avoided due to their potential to compromise mechanical integrity and performance. However, in this context, cracks are deliberately induced and meticulously controlled to serve as templates for versatile applications. This review explores the latest advances in preparation techniques, including solvent evaporation and thermal stress induction, with a focus on the interplay between material properties (e.g., polymers and ceramics) and process parameters (e.g., drying rates and temperature, layer thickness, substrate interactions) that govern crack behavior. The resulting crack patterns offer tunable features, such as density, width, shape, and orientation, which can be harnessed for applications in semitransparent electrodes, flexible sensors, and wearable and energy storage devices. Our study aims to navigate the advancements in crack engineering in the last 10 years and underscores its importance as a purposeful and versatile strategy for next-generation thin-film technologies, offering a novel and affordable approach to transforming perceived defects into assets for cutting-edge thin-film technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Accelerated Development of Nanomaterials, Coatings, and Thin Films for Optical and Electronic Applications)
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