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Surface Modification Techniques Utilizing Plasma and Photonic Methods
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Surface Modification Techniques Utilizing Plasma and Photonic Methods

A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Plasma Coatings, Surfaces & Interfaces".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 1072

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Zaichun Sun

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Materials Science and Engineering & State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Interests: inorganic solid-state materials
Dr. Qianglong He

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Materials Science and Engineering & State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Interests: advanced ceramic matrix composites
Dr. Jiaji Zhang

E-Mail
Guest Editor Assistant
School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Interests: marine materials and engineering

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We invite authors to submit research to this Special Issue, titled “Surface Modification Techniques Utilizing Plasma and Photonic Methods.” Surface modification plays a crucial role in tailoring the physical and chemical properties of functional materials for various applications, ranging from electronics and energy devices to biomedical systems and structural components. Plasma- and photon-based techniques, such as plasma-enhanced processes, laser surface engineering, and photonic annealing, have attracted extensive interest due to their unique ability to precisely manipulate surface chemistry, microstructure, and morphology in a rapid, controllable, and environmentally friendly manner.

These advanced techniques not only provide new opportunities for improving hardness, wear resistance, corrosion protection, and catalytic activity but also enable the development of next-generation devices with enhanced performance, miniaturization, and integration capabilities. On the other hand, the complexity of plasma–material and light–matter interactions poses scientific and technological challenges in understanding modification mechanisms, scaling up fabrication, and achieving long-term stability.

This Special Issue aims to highlight the latest progress in the design, fabrication, characterization, and application of surface modification technologies that employ plasma and photonic methods. We welcome contributions from leading scientists and engineers worldwide, encompassing both original research and review articles.

In particular, topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Novel plasma-assisted surface modification techniques;
  • Laser- and photonic-based surface engineering methods;
  • Mechanistic understanding of plasma–material and light–matter interactions;
  • Hybrid plasma–photon processes for advanced coatings and interfaces;
  • Surface modification for electronic, energy, biomedical, and structural applications;
  • Durability, stability, and scalability of modified surfaces;
  • Applications of modified materials in engineering.

Dr. Zaichun Sun
Dr. Qianglong He
Guest Editor

Dr. Jiaji Zhang
Guest Editor Assistant

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

  • plasma-assisted surface modification
  • photonic processing and laser surface engineering
  • light–matter and plasma–material interactions
  • advanced coatings and interface engineering
  • surface functionalization for energy, electronics, and engineering applications

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

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  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 2905 KB  
Article
Fabrication of Sapphire-Embedded Ultra-Wear-Resistant Metal Grids
by Gaoyuan Mi, Songlin Wang, Jianfu Zhang, Runqing Li, Qingqing Wu, Xiang Zhang, Wanhong Yin and Tianyu Wu
Coatings 2026, 16(2), 166; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings16020166 - 30 Jan 2026
Viewed by 123
Abstract
To address poor wear resistance of surface metal grids for optical windows and low efficiency and poor uniformity of traditional embedded technologies, this study fabricates ultra-wear-resistant embedded metal grids on 180 mm × 180 mm × 8 mm sapphire via photolithography and large-area [...] Read more.
To address poor wear resistance of surface metal grids for optical windows and low efficiency and poor uniformity of traditional embedded technologies, this study fabricates ultra-wear-resistant embedded metal grids on 180 mm × 180 mm × 8 mm sapphire via photolithography and large-area plasma etching. Etching grooves (depth about 300 nm) and depositing 135 nm silver (Ag) + 170 nm alumina (Al2O3) films, the grids exhibit transmittance 80.2%~80.9% (2~5 μm), wear resistance without damage, and reliable EMI shielding (Electromagnetic Interference Shielding) (3~18 GHz), offering a scalable solution for harsh-environment optoelectronic windows. The embedded structure integrates high transmittance, ultra-wear resistance, and reliable EMI shielding, addressing the core demands of optoelectronic windows in aerospace, outdoor monitoring, and other harsh environments where durability and stability are critical. The key innovation lies in the optimized integration of large-area plasma etching and low-temperature electron beam deposition, achieving precise control of groove depth uniformity (<4%) and transmittance uniformity (<1%) on high-hardness sapphire substrates, which overcomes the trade-off between efficiency and uniformity in traditional embedded technologies. Future applications include high-performance optical windows for airborne surveillance systems, space-borne optoelectronic devices, and harsh-environment industrial monitoring equipment, with potential extension to other high-hardness dielectric substrates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Modification Techniques Utilizing Plasma and Photonic Methods)
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24 pages, 12079 KB  
Article
Microstructure and Properties of 316L Lattice/Al Composites Fabricated by Infiltration with Different Aspect Ratios of Lattice
by Liqiang Liu, Yue Liu, Yi Liu, Junfa Wang, Longquan Wang and Jiacheng Wei
Coatings 2026, 16(1), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings16010050 - 2 Jan 2026
Viewed by 407
Abstract
The interfacial behavior between lattice reinforcement and aluminum matrix plays an important role in determining the mechanical and tribological properties of lattice-reinforced aluminum matrix composites. In this study, 316L lattices with different aspect ratios were prepared by laser powder bed elting (LPBF) technology, [...] Read more.
The interfacial behavior between lattice reinforcement and aluminum matrix plays an important role in determining the mechanical and tribological properties of lattice-reinforced aluminum matrix composites. In this study, 316L lattices with different aspect ratios were prepared by laser powder bed elting (LPBF) technology, and LY12 aluminum alloy was infiltrated under vacuum conditions. The effects of lattice aspect ratio on the interfacial reaction, microstructure, hardness, compressive strength, and wear resistance of the composites were systematically studied. First-principles calculations show that FeAl2 and FeAl3 intermetallic compounds are preferentially formed at the interface, showing good thermodynamic stability and mechanical properties. The microstructure analysis shows that the increase in aspect ratio promotes the formation of coarse FeAl3 phase and network AlCu, while a too-large aspect ratio leads to the instability of microstructure and the generation of microcracks. When the lattice constant is 10 mm and the diameter of the support is 1 mm (BCC-10-1), the composite material has the best wear resistance, and the specific wear rate is 3.07 × 10−4 mm3/(N·m). These findings provide valuable insights into the design of high-performance lattice-reinforced aluminum matrix composites with customized interface properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Modification Techniques Utilizing Plasma and Photonic Methods)
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12 pages, 3212 KB  
Article
Fast Joining of the 40Cr/WC-8Co Combination with Ag28Cu Interlaer Through the Spark Plasma Sintering Process
by Shenggang Wang, Chang Yu, Xuanyi Lin and Haitao Xu
Coatings 2025, 15(11), 1355; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15111355 - 20 Nov 2025
Viewed by 330
Abstract
The solid joining between the WC-8Co cemented carbide and alloy steels has great significance for their extensive applications. In this study, the WC-8Co and 40Cr steel were joined with the Ag-28Cu interlayer through the SPS method. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the [...] Read more.
The solid joining between the WC-8Co cemented carbide and alloy steels has great significance for their extensive applications. In this study, the WC-8Co and 40Cr steel were joined with the Ag-28Cu interlayer through the SPS method. The microstructure and mechanical properties of the joints obtained at three temperatures—740 °C, 760 °C, and 780 °C—were analyzed. The joining mechanism was studied, and the relationship between the microstructure and shear strength of the joints was also revealed. When processed at 740 °C, the poor bonding between the interlayer and the 40Cr substrates damaged the joint strength. Higher bonding temperature helped to eliminate the interfacial defects. The joint bonded at 760 °C consists mainly of Ag, Cu within the interlayer and Co-rich Fe(s,s) at the substrate/interlayer interfaces, without any defects. In such a case, the shear strength of the joints reached the maximum level of 236 MPa. However, the increased residual stresses at higher bonding temperatures (780 °C) spoiled the strength of the joints, resulting in the decreasing of the shear strength to 173 MPa. The study shed light on the fast joining of the WC-Co and alloy steels at relatively low temperatures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Surface Modification Techniques Utilizing Plasma and Photonic Methods)
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