Advanced Oxide Thin Films and Coatings: From Fundamentals to Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Oxide thin films and coatings represent a cornerstone of modern materials science, driving innovation across a vast spectrum of technologies. Their diverse functionalities—spanning dielectric, ferroelectric, magnetic, superconducting, optical, catalytic, and electrochemical properties—are underpinned by a rich interplay of chemistry, structure, and defects at the nanoscale. From the established heart of microelectronics and optoelectronics to the burgeoning frontiers of energy conversion, sustainable catalysis, smart sensors, and biomedical devices, advanced oxide coatings are indispensable. The relentless pursuit of enhanced performance, novel phenomena, and scalable fabrication methods continues to fuel intense global research.

This Special Issue aims to capture the cutting-edge advancements in the science and technology of advanced oxide thin films and coatings. We seek to bridge the gap between fundamental understanding and practical application, highlighting how insights into growth mechanisms, microstructure–property relationships, and interfacial engineering unlock new functionalities. The integration of novel deposition techniques, including atomic-scale precision methods, with advanced characterization and computational modeling, is pushing the boundaries of what is possible. This Special Issue will serve as a platform for disseminating high-quality research that addresses both the foundational questions and the application-driven challenges in this dynamic field. We welcome contributions that explore novel materials, pioneering synthesis approaches, in-depth mechanistic studies, and demonstrations of devices and systems that leverage the unique attributes of oxide thin films.

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

• Novel Synthesis and Processing: Advanced deposition techniques (ALD, PLD, MBE, MSC, CVD, novel sol–gel routes), epitaxial growth, combinatorial synthesis, strain engineering, and scalable manufacturing processes.
• Functional Properties and Phenomena: Dielectric, ferroelectric, piezoelectric, multiferroic, magnetic, superconducting, optical (transparent, reflective, luminescent), ionic/electronic transport, catalytic, and memristive.
• Energy and Sustainability Applications: Thin films for photovoltaics, fuel cells, electrolyzers, batteries, supercapacitors, thermoelectrics, photocatalytic water splitting, and CO₂.
• Electronics and Photonics: High-κ dielectrics, oxide semiconductors, transparent electrodes, resistive switching memory, neuromorphic devices, optical waveguides, modulators, and photonic crystals.
• Functional Coatings: Protective coatings (corrosion, wear, thermal barrier), smart coatings (self-cleaning, anti-reflective, electrochromic), bioactive coatings, and catalytic coatings.
• Characterization and Theory: Advanced microscopy (STEM, in-situ TEM), spectroscopy, scattering techniques, and ab initio or multiscale modeling for property prediction and mechanistic understanding.
• Hybrid and Nanostructured Systems: Two-dimensional oxides, nanocomposite films, multilayer heterostructures, and interface-engineered devices (e.g., in oxide electronics or spintronics).

We look forward to receiving your contributions!

Dr. Shiwei Zhuang
Dr. Daqiang Hu
Dr. Yang Zhao
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.

• oxide thin films
• functional coatings
• thin film deposition
• structure–property relationships
• ferroelectric oxides
• transparent conductive oxides
• energy materials
• electronic devices
• protective coatings
• advanced characterization