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Coatings
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Novel Approaches to Hybrid Films or Coatings
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Novel Approaches to Hybrid Films or Coatings

A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2024) | Viewed by 12956

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Violeta Purcar

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Research and Development Institute for Chemistry and Petrochemistry – ICECHIM, Splaiul Independentei 202, 6th District, 060021 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: sol-gel process; nanostructured hybrid materials; thin films; protective coatings; surface modification/functionalization; physicochemical characterization
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We would like to invite you to submit your work to this Special Issue, entitled “Novel Approaches to Hybrid Films or Coatings.”

Coatings have been applied to different substrates in order to obtain various properties such as anti-reflection, antistatic, defogging, anti-abrasion, self-cleaning, solar control, and electrical conductivity. Many factors play an important role in the final properties of derived coatings, such as methods of application, substrates, and their surface conditions. The most commonly used methods to prepare the nanostructured films are sol-gel processes, chemical vapour deposition, layer-by-layer assembly plus phase separation, chemical etching, etc. The final obtained hybrid films have been characterized with FTIR and UV-Vis spectroscopy, AFM, SEM and TEM microscopy, and contact angle measurements to investigate the structure and morphology, and determine any modifications to the surface polarity.

The aim of this Special Issue is to publish high quality research papers and review papers addressing the current and future advances on the preparation and characterization of thin films or coatings based on nanostructured materials or composites for applications in the diverse fields of electronics, optics, aircrafts, defense, and other industries. Special emphasis will be placed on the influence of chemical or physical surface modification on the inferred properties, such as wettability, stimuli-responsiveness, compatibility, adhesion,  etc. Contributions analyzing the effect of interfaces and interphases of hybrids or (nano)composites on their physico-chemical properties are also appreciated. Original research and reviews that have not yet been published or that are not currently under review by other journals are invited.

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

  • Nanostructured materials with surface modifications for applications
  • Functional thin films and coatings (including deposition techniques)
  • Design and synthesis of thin films or coatings based on functional nanomaterials or composites
  • Physico-chemical characterization
  • Industrial and technological applications of hybrid films or coatings

Dr. Violeta Purcar
Guest Editor

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/coatings
  • surface modification/functionalization
  • nano and micro-structured surface
  • physic and chemistry characterization
  • processing
  • surface interactions

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 4519 KiB  
Article
Physicochemical and Morphological Properties of Hybrid Films Containing Silver-Based Silica Materials Deposited on Glass Substrates
by Violeta Purcar, Valentin Rădiţoiu, Florentina Monica Raduly, Alina Rădițoiu, Mihai Anastasescu, Monica Popa, Simona Căprărescu, Raluca Şomoghi, Mariana Constantin, Cristina Firincă and Georgiana Cornelia Ispas
Coatings 2022, 12(2), 242; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings12020242 - 13 Feb 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2152
Abstract
The main goal of this study was to present a facile and inexpensive approach for the preparation of hybrid coatings by the deposition under ambient air conditions of silver-based silica materials on glass substrates, which can be used to improve solar cells’ performance. [...] Read more.
The main goal of this study was to present a facile and inexpensive approach for the preparation of hybrid coatings by the deposition under ambient air conditions of silver-based silica materials on glass substrates, which can be used to improve solar cells’ performance. The silica materials containing silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were synthesized by the hydrolytic condensation of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), triethoxymethylsilane (MTES), and trimethoxyhexadecylsilane (HDTMES), under acidic conditions, at room temperature (25 ± 2 °C). The silver nitrate solution (AgNO3, 0.1 wt. %) was used as a source of Ag+ ions. The final samples were investigated through Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy–Attenuated Total Reflectance (FTIR–ATR), Transmission Electron Microscopy equipped with energy dispersive X–ray (TEM–EDX), UV–Vis spectroscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and Raman Spectroscopy (RS). The TEM images confirmed the formation of AgNPs and were found to be around 3 nm. It was observed that AgNPs were embedded in the silica matrix. EDX also confirmed the presence of the resulting AgNPs within the silica material. AFM images demonstrated that the morphology of the hybrid films’ surfaces can be changed as a function of sol–gel composition. RS analysis indicated that silanol groups were significantly present on the silver-based silica film surface. The UV–Vis spectra revealed that the hybrid coatings presented a reflectance of ~8%, at 550 nm. This study will enhance the value of nanocoating technology in optoelectronics, particularly in the development of nanostructures that improve the performance in thin-film solar cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Approaches to Hybrid Films or Coatings)
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15 pages, 4674 KiB  
Article
Theoretical and Experimental Analysis of Surface Roughness and Adhesion Forces of MEMS Surfaces Using a Novel Method for Making a Compound Sputtering Target
by Majid Salehi, Pedram Heidari, Behrooz Ruhani, Amanj Kheradmand, Violeta Purcar and Simona Căprărescu
Coatings 2021, 11(12), 1551; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings11121551 - 17 Dec 2021
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3486
Abstract
Achieving a compound thin film with uniform thickness and high purity has always been a challenge in the applications concerning micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS). Controlling the adhesion force in micro/nanoscale is also critical. In the present study, a novel method for making [...] Read more.
Achieving a compound thin film with uniform thickness and high purity has always been a challenge in the applications concerning micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS). Controlling the adhesion force in micro/nanoscale is also critical. In the present study, a novel method for making a sputtering compound target is proposed for coating Ag–Au thin films with thicknesses of 120 and 500 nm on silicon substrates. The surface topography and adhesion forces of the samples were obtained using atomic force microscope (AFM). Rabinovich and Rumpf models were utilized to measure the adhesion force and compare the results with the obtained experimental values. It was found that the layer with a thickness of 500 nm has a lower adhesion force than the one with 120 nm thickness. The results further indicated that due to surface asperity radius, the adhesion achieved from the Rabinovich model was closer to the experimental values. This novel method for making a compound sputtering target has led to a lower adhesion force which can be useful for coating microgripper surfaces. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Approaches to Hybrid Films or Coatings)
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17 pages, 9790 KiB  
Article
Fabrication of a UV Photodetector Based on n-TiO2/p-CuMnO2 Heterostructures
by Mircea Nicolaescu, Cornelia Bandas, Corina Orha, Viorel Şerban, Carmen Lazău and Simona Căprărescu
Coatings 2021, 11(11), 1380; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings11111380 - 11 Nov 2021
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 2720
Abstract
The heterojunction based on n-TiO2 nanolayer/p-CuMnO2 thin film was achieved using an efficient two-step synthesis process for the fabrication of a UV photodetector. The first step consisted of obtaining the TiO2 nanolayer, which was grown on titan [...] Read more.
The heterojunction based on n-TiO2 nanolayer/p-CuMnO2 thin film was achieved using an efficient two-step synthesis process for the fabrication of a UV photodetector. The first step consisted of obtaining the TiO2 nanolayer, which was grown on titan foil by thermal oxidation (Ti-TiO2). The second step consisted of CuMnO2 thin film deposition onto the surface of Ti-TiO2 using the Doctor Blade method. Techniques such as X-ray diffraction, UV-VIS analysis, SEM, and AFM morphologies were used for the investigation of the structural and morphological characteristics of the as-synthesized heterostructures. The Mott–Schottky analysis was performed in order to prove the n-TiO2/p-CuMnO2 junction. The I-V measurements of the n-TiO2 nanolayer/p-CuMnO2 thin film heterostructure confirm its diode characteristics under dark state, UV and visible illumination conditions. The obtained heterojunction, which is based on two types of semiconductors with different energy band structures, improves the separating results of charges, which is very important for high-performance UV photodetectors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Approaches to Hybrid Films or Coatings)
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16 pages, 4833 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Coated Nanostructures Based on Alginate and Electrospun Collagen Loaded with Antimicrobial Agents
by Ecaterina Matei, Carmen Gaidau, Maria Râpă, Laura Mihaela Stefan, Lia-Mara Ditu, Andra Mihaela Predescu, Maria Stanca, Mircea Cristian Pantilimon, Mariana Daniela Berechet, Cristian Predescu and Anamaria Mosutiu
Coatings 2021, 11(2), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings11020121 - 21 Jan 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2188
Abstract
In this study, sodium alginate film (Alg) was coated with electrospun collagen glue (Col) extracted from rabbit skin waste, loaded with different commercial antimicrobial agents (chitosan, AG425K and ZnONPs) and investigated in terms of morphological, structural and biological properties. The coated nanostructures were [...] Read more.
In this study, sodium alginate film (Alg) was coated with electrospun collagen glue (Col) extracted from rabbit skin waste, loaded with different commercial antimicrobial agents (chitosan, AG425K and ZnONPs) and investigated in terms of morphological, structural and biological properties. The coated nanostructures were characterized using scanning electron microscopy coupled with the energy-dispersive X-ray (SEM/EDS), Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier-Transform Infrared spectroscopy (ATR FT-IR), and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) tests. The cytotoxicity was investigated on murine L929 fibroblasts using 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide salt (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays. Microbiological tests were performed against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and Candida albicans ATCC 27853 standard strains. In vitro cell culture tests showed a good cytocompatibility of the coated nanostructured systems, except the sample loaded with ZnONPs, which exhibited a highly cytotoxic effect. Alg-Col-ZnONPs nanostructure inhibited the growth and multiplication of the Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 bacterial strains. The results of new coated nanostructures may be useful for the development of sustainable biomaterials in a circular economy, with bioactive properties for medical wound dressings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Approaches to Hybrid Films or Coatings)
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13 pages, 2949 KiB  
Article
Preparation and Characterization of Some Sol-Gel Modified Silica Coatings Deposited on Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Substrates
by Violeta Purcar, Valentin Rădițoiu, Alina Rădițoiu, Raluca Manea, Florentina Monica Raduly, Georgiana Cornelia Ispas, Adriana Nicoleta Frone, Cristian Andi Nicolae, Raluca Augusta Gabor, Mihai Anastasescu, Hermine Stroescu and Simona Căprărescu
Coatings 2021, 11(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings11010011 - 24 Dec 2020
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 4176
Abstract
Transparent and antireflective coatings were prepared by deposition of modified silica materials onto polyvinyl chloride (PVC) substrates. These materials were obtained by the sol-gel route in acidic medium, at room temperature (25 °C), using different alkoxysilanes with various functional groups (methyl, vinyl, octyl [...] Read more.
Transparent and antireflective coatings were prepared by deposition of modified silica materials onto polyvinyl chloride (PVC) substrates. These materials were obtained by the sol-gel route in acidic medium, at room temperature (25 °C), using different alkoxysilanes with various functional groups (methyl, vinyl, octyl or hexadecyl). Physicochemical and microstructural properties of resulted silica materials and of thin coatings were investigated through Fourier Transforms Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-Vis spectroscopy, Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA), Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and ellipsometric measurements. Wetting behaviors of the silica coatings were evaluated by measurement of static contact angle against water. FTIR spectra of materials confirmed the high degree of cross-linking that result from the formation of the inorganic backbone through the hydrolysis and polycondensation reactions together with the formation of the organic network. These sol-gel silica coatings showed a reduction in the reflectance (10%) compared with uncoated PVC substrate. AFM reveals that the films are uniform, and adherent to the substrate, but their morphology is strongly influenced by the chemical composition of the coating matrices. These silica coatings can be useful for potential electronic and optical devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Approaches to Hybrid Films or Coatings)
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13 pages, 4804 KiB  
Article
Surface Functionalization of Mesoporous Carbon for the Enhanced Removal of Strontium and Cesium Radionuclides
by Munzir Hamedelniel Suliman, Mohammad Nahid Siddiqui and Chanbasha Basheer
Coatings 2020, 10(10), 923; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings10100923 - 25 Sep 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2440
Abstract
Mesoporous carbons (MPC) and modified mesoporous carbons (MMPC) were prepared from asphalt for the adsorption of several metal ions from the aqueous solution. In this study, we investigated the adsorption efficiency of Cesium (Cs+) and Strontium (Sr2+) ions using [...] Read more.
Mesoporous carbons (MPC) and modified mesoporous carbons (MMPC) were prepared from asphalt for the adsorption of several metal ions from the aqueous solution. In this study, we investigated the adsorption efficiency of Cesium (Cs+) and Strontium (Sr2+) ions using mesoporous and modified mesoporous carbons. The optimum conditions for the removal of Cs+ and Sr2+ were at 10.0 pH, 1.00 ppm (1000.0 µg/L) concentration, 20.0 min contact time, 0.20 g/L adsorbent dose, 25.0 °C temperature with more than 95.0% removal of Cs+ and Sr2+ ions using MMPC. The limit of detection (LOD) was found to be 0.030 ppb and 10.00 ppb for Sr2+ and Cs+ metals ions, respectively, while the Limit of quantification (LOQ) was calculated to be 0.10 ppb for Sr2+ and 35.00 ppb for Cs+ metals ions. The functionalization of the MPC was performed using potassium permanganate to get MMPC, which were characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy. The nature of the X-ray diffraction peaks suggests that the MPC and MMPC carbons are amorphous and semi-crystalline materials. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transition electron microscope (TEM) studies showed the changes in the morphology due to the adsorption on the surface of the carbons. The TEM analysis clearly showed that the metal ions blocked most of the pores on the surface. The surface area, by N2 adsorption isotherm (BET), of MPC and MMPC were 937 and 667 m2·g−1, respectively. Among the adsorption isotherms, Langmuir isotherm showed the best linearity. The Langmuir isotherm indicates that the adsorption is monolayer and homogeneous with a finite number of ions. Adsorption kinetics showed better linearity with pseudo-second-order plots and obeys this order. This process indicates that the chemical interaction, such as covalent or ionic bonding, took place between the metal ions and the carbon adsorbents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Novel Approaches to Hybrid Films or Coatings)
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