Ultrafast Laser-Engineered Surfaces for Smart and Adaptive Functionality

Dear Colleagues,

Laser surface engineering with ultrafast laser pulses is a powerful technique for creating smart and adaptive surface functionalities. Using laser pulses lasting only femtoseconds to picoseconds, ultrafast laser processing allows precise modifications without causing significant heat damage to the materials. This Special Issue aims to highlight recent developments in ultrafast laser-engineered surfaces and explore their practical uses in fields such as biomedical implants, anti-corrosion and anti-icing coatings, wear resistance, adaptive optics, sensors, and renewable energy.

We welcome original research articles and reviews focused on innovative ultrafast laser processing methods, characterisation techniques, new surface properties, and practical applications. Contributions covering theoretical insights, simulations, experimental validations, and practical challenges faced in industry and biomedical sectors are especially encouraged. Research demonstrating new functionalities, the potential for industrial scalability, and solutions to real-world problems will be highly valued.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Femtosecond laser-induced surface patterns;
• Ultrafast laser texturing for biomedical uses;
• Multi-functional surfaces for corrosion and ice resistance;
• Improved wear-resistant coatings;
• Adaptive optical surfaces created by lasers;
• Laser-structured surfaces for innovative sensor development;
• Energy harvesting applications using ultrafast laser techniques.

Dr. Chi Wai Chan
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.