Advances in Optical Coatings and Thin Films

Dear Colleagues,

The field of optical coatings and thin films has witnessed remarkable advancements over the years, becoming an essential component in modern optics and photonics. These coatings play a crucial role in controlling light propagation, reflection, absorption, and transmission, making them indispensable for a wide range of scientific and industrial applications. From high-performance lasers and precision optics to biomedical devices and energy-efficient solutions, the demand for cutting-edge optical coatings and thin films continues to grow.

The development of optical coatings dates back to the early 19th century, when the first antireflection effects were observed on glass surfaces. Since then, the evolution of deposition techniques, material innovations, and nanofabrication processes has led to sophisticated thin-film structures with tailored optical, mechanical, and chemical properties. Today, optical coatings are widely employed in telecommunications, photovoltaics, sensors, imaging systems, automotive optics, security technologies, and space exploration, among many other fields.

With increasing demands for enhanced optical performance, researchers and engineers are focusing on novel materials, improved deposition methods, and advanced characterization techniques. These efforts aim to achieve ultra-low absorption coatings, high-reflectivity mirrors for interferometry, durable coatings for harsh environments, and multifunctional coatings that integrate optical, electrical, and protective properties. Additionally, the emergence of nanostructured and hybrid coatings—such as sculpted metal nanofilms, quantum dots, and metasurfaces—has opened new frontiers in optical engineering, enabling unprecedented control over light–matter interactions.

This Special Issue, "Advances in Optical Coatings and Thin Films", aims to provide a platform for researchers to present original research articles, reviews, and perspectives covering the latest progress in the field. Contributions are welcome from both academia and industry, highlighting innovations in materials, fabrication techniques, characterization methods, and applications of optical thin films and coatings.

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

• Novel thin-film and coating fabrication methods;
• Rare-earth-doped thin films and coatings;
• Defect-related emission/absorption and optical matching;
• Organic, inorganic, smart, and 2D luminescent materials;
• Light-assisted electronic transport;
• Waveguide innovations;
• Quantum interference and spin–orbit coupling effects;
• Electric transport in 2D electron/hole gases at interfaces;
• Phenomena under extreme environmental conditions.

We invite researchers, engineers, and industry professionals to contribute their latest findings to this Special Issue. By fostering discussions on cutting-edge materials, techniques, and applications, we aim to drive further innovation and progress in the field of optical coatings and thin films.

Dr. Martina Gilić
Dr. Branka Hadzic
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 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.

• thin films
• optical coating
• optical thin-film technology
• light–matter interaction
• photonics