Laser Coatings and Surface Engineering

Dear Colleagues,

Recent advancements in laser-based techniques have revolutionized the field of surface engineering, enabling the development of coatings with exceptional properties and precision. Laser surface engineering represents a versatile and powerful approach for modifying material surfaces to enhance their functional performance, including wear resistance, corrosion protection, thermal stability, and biocompatibility. The non-contact nature, high reproducibility, and capability for localized treatment make laser methods highly attractive for both fundamental research and industrial applications across aerospace, automotive, energy, and medical sectors.

This field encompasses a broad range of methodologies, each with distinct advantages. Laser cladding and alloying facilitate the deposition of thick, metallurgically bonded coatings with tailored compositions, while laser surface remelting can refine microstructures and improve surface homogeneity. Pulsed laser deposition (PLD) and laser chemical vapor deposition (LCVD) offer exceptional control over the growth of high-purity, multi-layered thin films. Furthermore, ultrafast laser processing has emerged as a key technology for creating sophisticated surface textures and functional micro-nanostructures, such as superhydrophobic and anti-ice surfaces.

The aim of this Special Issue is to compile a collection of high-quality research articles and reviews that explore the forefront of laser-assisted surface modification technologies. This topic is central to the scope of Coatings, which is dedicated to the science and engineering of surfaces and thin films, including their fabrication, characterization, and performance. Laser-based techniques represent a pivotal area within this scope, enabling the precise design of functional coatings with enhanced mechanical, tribological, chemical, and thermal properties for advanced applications. This issue will specifically focus on the intersection of laser processing and coating technologies, a field that is both sufficiently focused to provide deep insight and broad enough to attract significant contributions from the international research community.

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

• Laser Cladding, Alloying, and Hardfacing of advanced alloys, composites, and cermets.
• Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) and Laser Chemical Vapor Deposition (LCVD) of functional thin films.
• Ultrafast Laser Surface Structuring for creating superhydrophobic, anti-ice, or anti-biofouling surfaces.
• Laser Surface Remelting for microstructural refinement and homogenization.
• Process–property–performance relationships in laser-engineered coatings.
• Additive Manufacturing and repair of components via laser-based techniques.
• Simulation and modeling of laser-matter interactions and thermal processes.
• Hybrid processes combining laser technology with other surface-engineering methods.
• Functional coatings for extreme environments (e.g., high temperature, corrosion, wear).
• Bio-functional and biomedical coatings created by laser processes.

We seek to highlight innovations that bridge the gap between fundamental research and industrial application.

We look forward to receiving your outstanding contributions.

Dr. Azim Gökçe
Prof. Dr. Ekrem Altuncu
Guest Editors

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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.

• laser surface engineering
• laser cladding
• pulsed laser deposition (PLD)
• laser additive manufacturing
• functional coatings
• surface modification
• thermal spray coatings
• laser–material interactions