Advanced Thin Films Technologies for Optics, Electronics, and Sensing, 2nd Edition

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce the publication of the second volume of “Advanced Thin Films Technologies for Optics, Electronics, and Sensing” (https://www.mdpi.com/journal/coatings/special_issues/thin_film_techonlogy). The previous edition, which featured 12 peer-reviewed articles, attracted significant interest within the scientific community. Building on this success, the current volume aims to further advance the field by compiling original research contributions and critical reviews addressing recent progress and emerging directions.

This Special Issue is dedicated to the development and application of advanced thin films, including inorganic and organic optical materials, semiconductors, functional nanostructures, carbon-based materials (such as graphene and nanotubes), bioinspired and environmentally friendly materials, perovskites, and hybrid systems. These materials, when prepared as thin films, can exhibit enhanced or distinct properties compared to their bulk counterparts—such as dielectric constant, magnetic permeability, anisotropy, electrical conductivity, and mechanical robustness—rendering them suitable for a wide range of applications, including those relating to light-emitting devices, solar cells, flexible electronics, and sensor technologies.

The properties of thin films are highly dependent on a range of synthesis-related parameters, including deposition technique, thermal processing, film thickness, and both bulk and surface morphology. As such, thin films offer exceptional tunability and functionality, making them integral to ongoing innovation in optics, electronics, and sensing.

In parallel with experimental and theoretical advances, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) methods has become increasingly relevant in the field. AI-driven approaches are accelerating the discovery and optimisation of thin-film materials through inverse design strategies, enabling the targeted identification of compositions and architectures that meet predefined functional requirements. In addition, machine learning algorithms are being employed for data-driven materials discovery, supporting the rapid screening of candidate materials with complex property interdependencies.

Furthermore, AI-assisted process control is emerging as a powerful tool to enhance the reproducibility, uniformity, and precision of thin-film fabrication. By leveraging real-time data from deposition processes—such as physical vapour deposition (PVD), chemical vapour deposition (CVD), and atomic layer deposition (ALD)—AI systems can dynamically adjust process parameters to achieve desired outcomes with increased efficiency and minimal waste. These developments represent a transformative shift in how thin-film technologies are developed, understood, and applied.

This Special Issue welcomes original contributions and focused reviews that explore recent advances in the synthesis, characterisation, modelling, and application of thin-film materials. Of particular interest are studies that provide insights into the relationship between structure and function, demonstrate novel device concepts, or incorporate AI and machine learning methods as part of the material design or fabrication workflow.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following areas:

• Synthesis of thin-film materials;
• Composite and nanocomposite films: design, fabrication, and characterisation;
• Thin-film deposition techniques (chemical and physical);
• AI-assisted design, optimisation, and process control for thin films;
• Advanced characterisation of bulk, surface, and interfacial properties;
• Optical properties of thin films and related applications;
• Thin-film technologies for hybrid solar cells;
• Thin films for electronic and sensing devices;
• Environmentally sustainable methods for thin-film production.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Octavian Buiu
Dr. Titus Sandu
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.

• smart coatings & materials
• 2D materials and flexible electronics
• machine learning for materials discovery
• data-driven materials optimisation
• microstructure–property relationship
• hybrid materials