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Advanced Functional Coatings: Synthesis, Characterization, and Multifunctional Applications in Energy,...
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Advanced Functional Coatings: Synthesis, Characterization, and Multifunctional Applications in Energy, Antimicrobial, and Corrosion Resistance

A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 521

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yun Zhao

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Guest Editor
College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: synthesis and surface modification of functional coatings; advanced coating deposition technologies: pld/mpcvd/magnetron sputtering; antimicrobial/corrosion-resistant/wear-resistant multifunctional coatings; electrochemical performance optimization of energy-related coatings; design and performance regulation of coating materials in extreme environments; in situ characterization and microstructural analysis of thin film coatings; preparation and application of diamond-based functional coatings; integration of coatings in energy storage devices and renewable energy systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Wei Wang

E-Mail
Guest Editor
School of Metallurgical and Ecological Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: new energy materials and devices; metallurgical electrochemistry; lithium/sodium/potassium/aluminum ion batteries; solid electrolytes
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Xuejin Wang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Science, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: electrodeposition and magnetron sputtering; solar energy materials and devices; lithium/zinc/magnesium/aluminum ion batteries; gel/solid electrolytes

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Functional coatings have emerged as pivotal materials in advanced surface engineering, energy systems, and environmental sustainability, with versatile applications in corrosion resistance, antimicrobial protection, energy storage, and tribological enhancement. This Special Issue focuses on the latest innovations in coating materials and technologies, covering synthesis methodologies (e.g., PLD, MPCVD, magnetron sputtering), structural characterization, and performance optimization. We welcome original research and reviews addressing multifunctional coating design, surface modification strategies, and their practical deployment in extreme environments, energy devices, and industrial engineering. By integrating interdisciplinary insights from materials science, electrochemistry, and surface engineering, this Special Issue will showcase breakthroughs that bridge fundamental research and real-world applications, fostering knowledge exchange to advance the development of high-performance, sustainable coating solutions.

Dr. Yun Zhao
Prof. Dr. Wei Wang
Dr. Xuejin Wang
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.

Keywords

  • functional coatings
  • surface modification
  • coating deposition technologies
  • multifunctional applications
  • electrochemical performance

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

20 pages, 2553 KB  
Article
Wet Chemical Synthesis of Benzalkonium Chloride-Hectorite Composites: Structural Regulation and Enhanced Antibacterial/Antifungal Performance for Indoor High-Humidity Decorative Materials
by Changchun Liu, Feng Yang, Wenkang Zhang, Feiya Shi, Shirong Xu, Taotao Yu, Jin Cheng, Ruize Chen, Chen Fang, Guping Tang, Hong Sun and Kenji Ogino
Coatings 2026, 16(5), 579; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings16050579 - 11 May 2026
Viewed by 283
Abstract
To mitigate health hazards from pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus) and fungi (Aspergillus niger) as well as the coating mildew issue in high-humidity indoor environments, and to overcome the challenges of particle agglomeration and non-uniform distribution in [...] Read more.
To mitigate health hazards from pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus) and fungi (Aspergillus niger) as well as the coating mildew issue in high-humidity indoor environments, and to overcome the challenges of particle agglomeration and non-uniform distribution in conventional benzalkonium chloride (BAC)-clay composites, this study proposes a wet chemical strategy to prepare BAC-hectorite antimicrobial composites using synthetic hectorite as a high-performance carrier, which is superior to natural clays such as montmorillonite and kaolin in structural uniformity, ion-exchange efficiency, and dispersion stability. Characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis confirmed the successful intercalation of BAC cations into the hectorite interlayers through ion exchange. This resulted in a significant expansion of the interlayer spacing from 1.0–1.2 nm to 1.5–1.8 nm, a marked alleviation of particle agglomeration, and an optimized pore structure. A clear structure–activity relationship between preparation conditions, microstructure regulation, and antimicrobial performance is systematically established. Antibacterial tests revealed superior efficacy against Gram-positive bacteria; the composite exhibited an inhibition zone of 13.31 mm and a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 4 μg/mL against S. aureus, compared to 11.62 mm and 32 μg/mL against E. coli. Practical application tests demonstrated that at an ultralow addition level of 0.4%, incorporating this composite into latex paint achieved an antibacterial rate exceeding 99.9% against both pathogens. When added to putty powder, it yielded Grade 0 mold resistance with no observable growth. Furthermore, compounding with polypropylene (PP) increased the elongation at break to approximately 600%, simultaneously realizing antibacterial, antifungal, and toughening functions, thereby not only conferring antibacterial functionality but also significantly enhancing toughness—resolving the typical polymer embrittlement caused by traditional inorganic antibacterial fillers. Short-term evaluations confirm that this composite offers a stable structure, high-efficiency antimicrobial properties, and improved substrate mechanics at low loading levels. These findings provide technical support and experimental guidance for the functional upgrading of indoor decorative coatings, putties, and polymer materials used in high-humidity scenarios such as kitchens and bathrooms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Functional Coatings: Synthesis, Characterization, and Multifunctional Applications in Energy, Antimicrobial, and Corrosion Resistance)
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