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Recent Developments and Practical Applications of Thin Films in Metal...
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Recent Developments and Practical Applications of Thin Films in Metal Oxides, Perovskites, and Rare Earth Oxides

A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Thin Films".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 August 2025 | Viewed by 1048

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. William Chiappim

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Physics, Laboratory of Plasmas and Applications, CNPq Productivity Scholarship in Research 2, School of Engineering and Science, São Paulo State University, Guaratinguetá 12516-410, Brazil
Interests: plasma physics; thin films; metal oxides; chalcogenides; perovskites; photovoltaics; solar cells; antimicrobial properties
Prof. Dr. Joaquim Pratas Leitão

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Physics Department and Institute for Nanostructures, Nanomodelling and Nanofabrication (I3N), Campus Universitário de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
Interests: semiconductor physics; thin films; chalcogenides; metal oxides; optical spectroscopy; passivation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Thin films, with their nano- to micrometre thickness, are integral to modern materials science, physics, chemistry, and engineering due to their distinct properties and wide-ranging applications. Fabricated through techniques like atomic layer deposition (ALD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD), sol–gel processes, magnetron sputtering, and molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE), these films possess tailored physical, chemical, optical, and electrical characteristics, making them essential across electronics, photonics, energy conversion, and biomedical sectors.

Metal oxides, chalcogenides, perovskites, rare earth oxides, and GaAs (gallium arsenide) are pivotal material classes extensively explored for thin film applications. Notably, metal oxide thin films such as zinc oxide (ZnO) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) are renowned for their semiconductor properties employed in solar cells, gas sensors, and transparent conductive coatings. Chalcogenide thin films based on selenium and tellurium exhibit unique phase change properties crucial for optical data storage and memory devices. Perovskite thin films like methylammonium lead iodide (CH3NH3PbI3) have emerged as highly efficient materials for next-generation photovoltaics and light-emitting diodes. Rare earth oxide thin films contribute magnetic and optical functionalities vital for spintronics and advanced optics. GaAs thin films, a III–V compound semiconductor, find application in high-performance electronic and optoelectronic devices, including solar cells and laser diodes.

This Special Issue aims to highlight recent developments and practical applications across these diverse thin film classes. Contributions will showcase advancements in materials synthesis, fabrication techniques, characterization methodologies, and cutting-edge applications in various technological domains. Additionally, it will explore the emerging role of thin films in antimicrobial applications, reflecting a growing interest in leveraging their unique properties to combat microbial threats in healthcare and environmental contexts.

This Special Issue seeks to cover a wide array of topics related to thin film technologies and their utilization across various fields. Specific areas of interest include the following:

Novel deposition methods for metal oxides, chalcogenides, perovskites, rare earth oxides, and GaAs thin films, encompassing ALD, CVD, sol–gel processes, magnetron sputtering, and MBE.

Advances in materials design and engineering tailored for thin film applications.

Characterization techniques for comprehensive analysis of the structural, optical, electrical, and magnetic properties of thin films.

Thin film-based devices such as solar cells, photodetectors, light-emitting diodes, sensors, and memory devices.

Surface passivation strategies and their influence on thin film performance and longevity.

Exploration of the antimicrobial properties of thin films and their diverse applications in healthcare, food packaging, and environmental sustainability.

Prof. Dr. William Chiappim
Prof. Dr. Joaquim Pratas Leitão
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.

Keywords

  • thin films
  • metal oxides
  • chalcogenides
  • perovskites
  • rare earth oxides
  • GaAs thin films
  • atomic layer deposition (ALD)
  • chemical vapor deposition (CVD)
  • Sol–gel processes
  • magnetron sputtering
  • molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE)
  • characterization methods
  • photovoltaics
  • solar cells
  • optoelectronic devices
  • memory devices
  • surface passivation
  • antimicrobial properties
  • biomedical applications
  • environmental sustainability

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

17 pages, 9133 KiB  
Article
Synthesis of the Solar Selective Material CuFeMnO4 by Solid Phase and Co-Precipitation
by Yang Li, Yu Xiang and Lingyun Liu
Coatings 2025, 15(3), 292; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15030292 - 2 Mar 2025
Viewed by 666
Abstract
This study meticulously explores two distinct synthesis methods, the solid-state reaction method and the co-precipitation method, for fabricating the spinel-structured solar selective material CuFeMnO4. By comparing the materials synthesized through these two methods in terms of crystal structure, micro-morphology, particle size [...] Read more.
This study meticulously explores two distinct synthesis methods, the solid-state reaction method and the co-precipitation method, for fabricating the spinel-structured solar selective material CuFeMnO4. By comparing the materials synthesized through these two methods in terms of crystal structure, micro-morphology, particle size distribution, and optical properties, the influence of different preparation methods on the final material performance is revealed. The primary characterization through X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV-Vis spectroscopy revealed the material’s structural and optical properties, allowing evaluation of the modified synthetic approach’s effectiveness in material design optimization. The results indicate that CuFeMnO4 prepared by the solid-state method exhibits high crystallinity and good thermal stability under high-temperature conditions. The XRD patterns show that the spinel phase is more prominent and fewer impurities are observed in samples synthesized by the solid-state method. In contrast, the co-precipitation method demonstrates a significant advantage in controlling particle size, with particles of 1–3 μm obtained via the solid-state method and particles of 400–1000 nm synthesized via the co-precipitation method. This study further discusses optimization strategies for both methods, providing theoretical support and a practical basis for the future design and fabrication of efficient solar selective materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Developments and Practical Applications of Thin Films in Metal Oxides, Perovskites, and Rare Earth Oxides)
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