Innovative Thin Films for Opto/Electronic Devices

Dear Colleagues,

Optoelectronic devices have a wide range of applications, from light-emitting diodes to transistors, sensors, and energy conversion devices. Semiconductor materials, which can absorb electromagnetic waves from the UV to the IR region, depending on their bandgap energy ranges and optical properties, are at the center of opto/electrical applications. Nanostructured and two-dimensional (2D) semiconductor materials have attracted a great deal of attention in recent years due to their unique physical properties. It is very important to examine the structure–performance relationships of thin films produced for all kinds of opto/electronic applications since the optical and electrical properties of these materials change according to the thin film production method, and these differing properties directly affect the device performance. Along with innovative thin-film coatings, different production methods are also developing that will enable the transfer of these materials to different substrates. For example, besides the conventional production methods, which are mainly vacuum-based techniques, solution-based production methods such as chemical bath deposition, spray pyrolysis, and self-assembly not only reduce the production cost but also enable the production of functional materials on various substrates. Flexible substrates including polymers, metal foils, and fabrics provide mechanical robustness and lightweight properties. Therefore, opto/electronic devices manufactured on these substrates make it possible to produce wearable and portable devices. For instance, in energy conversion and storage systems, such as solar cells and supercapacitors, functional thin films deposited on flexible materials result in portable renewable energy solutions. One of the very interesting production methods for thin-film coatings of flexible opto/electronic devices is the inkjet printing method, and many different coatings can be realized with this method, from semiconductor materials to insulators and even metallic materials. Considering the innovative thin-film coatings in the material focus, semiconductor materials have a great place. Metal oxide coatings, which have a large energy bandgap, are used in application areas such as sensors, diodes, and solar cells. Nanostructures of metal oxides provide control of the absorption and transport properties by not only controlling the crystal size but also controlling the morphology and defect properties. Semiconductors having absorption in the visible range have also been popular in energy conversion and diode applications. Additionally, smaller band gap energy materials can be used in IR sensors, optical communication, and modulators. Besides the nanomaterials (e.g., nanowires, nanoflakes, and quantum dots), 2D materials have been used widely in opto/electronic applications due to their unique absorption and charge transfer properties. Therefore, in this Special Issue of Coatings, we are aiming to publish multi-disciplinary pioneering studies in areas such as production techniques, innovative materials, and the establishment of a production technique/structure/performance relationship on innovative thin films that stand out in the field of optoelectronics.

We are pleased to invite you to this Special Issue of Coatings titled Innovative Thin-Films for Opto/Electronic Devices, which aims to publish pioneering studies in the field. The Issue will include (but not be limited to) metal oxides, perovskite, quantum dots, conjugated polymers, and 2D material thin-film coatings as well as innovative and cost-effective manufacturing techniques.

The theme of this Special Issue broadly includes (but is not limited to):

• Metal oxide nanostructured thin-film coatings;
• Perovskite thin-film coatings;
• Quantum dot thin-films coatings;
• Conjugated polymeric thin-film coatings;
• Spray pyrolysis of thin films;
• Ink-jet printing of thin films;
• Self-assembly of opto/electronic materials;
• 2D materials and coatings for opto/electronic devices.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Mehmet Sankir
Dr. Yubin Chen
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• metal oxides
• perovskites
• quantum dots
• conjugated polymers
• spray pyrolysis
• ink-jet printing
• self-assembly
• 2D materials and coatings