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Optical Coatings: From Materials to Applications
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Optical Coatings: From Materials to Applications

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2025) | Viewed by 14883

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Ihor S. Virt

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Physics, Drohobych Ivan Franko State Pedagogical University, Ivan Franko 24, 82100 Drohobych, Ukraine
Interests: condensed phase physics; optoelectronic; thin-film technologies; thin-film materials; epitaxial thin films; pulsed laser deposition; photocurrent spectroscopy; low-frequency noise spectroscopy; photovoltaic and thermoelectric structures
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This section is interested in the use of thin films in various fields of science and technology, such as the production of electronic, photonic and optoelectronic devices and their integration into various types of devices. The thin-film materials discussed in this section include semiconductors, transparent conducting oxides (TCO), organic and amorphous semiconductors, nanostructured materials, and various other products. The deposition processes of various optical materials with characteristics such as high sensitivity, robust structure, and clear recognition are interesting in terms of their capacity to improve the performance of fiber-optic sensors. Antireflective coatings (ARC) are required for various optical components.

Equally, it is important to develop layers with a high refractive index and with high reflectivity for broadband applications, such as TiO2, ZrO2, Nb2O5, Ta2O5 and others. High-efficiency thin-film materials can be used for photovoltaic applications and in industrial devices.

Thin-film materials can be used more broadly as photodetectors, infrared and quantum infrared photodetectors, semiconductor and quantum cascade lasers, photovoltaic cells, and integrated circuits. Other uses include their roles as semiconductor devices, wireless devices, telecommunications, integrated circuits, and computer chips.  

This section welcomes the submission of articles on topics that include:

  • Scientific aspects of methods of deposition and processing of thin films. Growth and crystallization of thin films, atomic layer crystallization, nucleation and processes during the growth and heat treatment of thin films. Formation of crystal structure during growth of films, epitaxial thin films, and expectations versus real structure of monocrystalline films. In situ growth and classification of cluster morphologists: study of growth of composite thin films.
  • Thin-film and coating technologies, including physical vapor deposition (PVD), magnetron sputtering (MS), sol–gel technology (SLGL), pulsed laser deposition methods (PLD), plasma/ion beam deposition (PIBD), chemical vapor deposition (CVD).
  • Diagnosis of the characteristics of thin films—using optical, electrical, thermal, spectroscopic, mechanical, X-ray and electron microscopic methods. Low-energy electron diffraction spectroscopy and photoelectron spectroscopy of ultrathin films.

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

  • Technologies and mechanisms of growth of thin films;
  • Wide-bandgap, narrow-bandgap semiconductor and metal thin films;
  • Thin-film structures for fiber-optic elements, optoelectronic and photovoltaic devices;
  • Thin-film coatings for biomedicine and bioelectronics devices;
  • Thin films for lenses, mirrors and other optical elements.

Prof. Dr. Ihor S. Virt
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

  • coatings technologies
  • thin-film structures
  • optical constants
  • optoelectronics
  • photovoltaic devices
  • fiber-optic elements
  • antireflection coatings
  • transparent conducting oxides

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 2921 KiB  
Article
Optical Coating Deposition on Submicron-Patterned Surfaces
by Lina Grineviciute, Simas Melnikas, Julianija Nikitina, Mantas Drazdys, Algirdas Selskis and Darija Astrauskytė
Coatings 2025, 15(4), 372; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings15040372 - 22 Mar 2025
Viewed by 294
Abstract
Periodically modulated optical coatings, fabricated by depositing conformal films on modulated substrates, offer unique capabilities for spectral and spatial filtering of light. However, conventional deposition methods often do not achieve required replication and conformality on submicron-size structured surfaces. In this paper, we compare [...] Read more.
Periodically modulated optical coatings, fabricated by depositing conformal films on modulated substrates, offer unique capabilities for spectral and spatial filtering of light. However, conventional deposition methods often do not achieve required replication and conformality on submicron-size structured surfaces. In this paper, we compare various thin film deposition techniques, including electron beam evaporation, atomic layer deposition, and ion beam sputtering, to evaluate their ability to control multilayer coating growth on periodically modulated substrates. Our study demonstrates that both single-layer and multilayer coatings produced by ion beam sputtering effectively replicate the initial geometry of structured surfaces, thereby enhancing optical performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optical Coatings: From Materials to Applications)
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12 pages, 3832 KiB  
Article
Laser Control of Specular and Diffuse Reflectance of Thin Aluminum Film-Isolator-Metal Structures for Anti-Counterfeiting and Plasmonic Color Applications
by Michał P. Nowak, Bogusz Stępak, Mateusz Pielach, Yuriy Stepanenko, Tomasz Wojciechowski, Bartosz Bartosewicz, Urszula Chodorow, Marcin Jakubaszek, Przemysław Wachulak and Piotr Nyga
Coatings 2024, 14(10), 1298; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14101298 - 11 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1948
Abstract
Plasmonic structural color originates from the scattering and absorption of visible light by metallic nanostructures. Stacks consisting of thin, disordered semicontinuous metal films are attractive plasmonic color media, as they can be mass-produced using industry-proven physical vapor deposition techniques. These films are comprised [...] Read more.
Plasmonic structural color originates from the scattering and absorption of visible light by metallic nanostructures. Stacks consisting of thin, disordered semicontinuous metal films are attractive plasmonic color media, as they can be mass-produced using industry-proven physical vapor deposition techniques. These films are comprised of random nano-island structures of various sizes and shapes resonating at different wavelengths. When irradiated with short-pulse lasers, the nanostructures are locally restructured, and their optical response is altered in a spectrally selective manner. Therefore, various colors are obtained. We demonstrate the generation of structural plasmonic colors through femtosecond laser modification of a thin aluminum film–isolator–metal mirror (TAFIM) structure. Laser-induced structuring of TAFIM’s top aluminum film significantly alters the sample’s specular and diffuse reflectance depending on the fluence value and the number of times a region is scanned. A “negative image” effect is possible, where a dark field observation mode image is a negative of a bright field mode image. This effect is visible using an optical microscope, the naked eye, and a digital camera. The use of self-passivating aluminum results in a long-lasting, non-fading coloration effect. The reported technique could be used in anti-counterfeiting and security applications, as well as in plasmonic color printing and macroscopic and microscopic marking for personalized fine arts and aesthetic products such as jewelry. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optical Coatings: From Materials to Applications)
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16 pages, 5142 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Thermal Treatment on the Structural, Optical and Electrochemical Characteristics of Tin Sulfide Films
by Asta Bronusiene, Ieva Barauskiene, Anton Popov, Boldizsar Zsiros, Attila Farkas, Jan Plšek and Ingrida Ancutiene
Coatings 2024, 14(10), 1284; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14101284 - 8 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1225
Abstract
The development of eco-friendly, cost-effective, and naturally abundant electrode materials for supercapacitors is gaining critical importance in current energy storage research. This study focuses on the synthesis of tin sulfide (SnSx) films via the eco-friendly successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method, [...] Read more.
The development of eco-friendly, cost-effective, and naturally abundant electrode materials for supercapacitors is gaining critical importance in current energy storage research. This study focuses on the synthesis of tin sulfide (SnSx) films via the eco-friendly successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method, employing varying quantities of L-ascorbic acid (0.8 and 1.0 g) as a reducing agent. Tin sulfide films were deposited on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrates and subsequently annealed in an inert atmosphere at temperatures ranging from 200 to 400 °C, resulting in thin films of varying thicknesses (100–420 nm). The structural and compositional characteristics of the films were thoroughly analyzed using Raman spectroscopy to confirm the purity and spectroscopic signatures of the sulfides. Further characterization was performed to assess the films’ morphology (scanning electron microscopy, SEM), phase composition (X-ray diffraction, XRD), surface chemical states (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, XPS), optical properties (UV–Vis spectroscopy), and electrical properties (Hall measurements). The gathered data were then used to evaluate the potential of tin sulfide films as electrode materials in supercapacitors, highlighting their suitability for sustainable energy storage applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optical Coatings: From Materials to Applications)
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15 pages, 4355 KiB  
Article
All-Layer Electrodeposition of a CdTe/Hg0.1Cd0.9Te/CdTe Photodetector for Short- and Mid-Wavelength Infrared Detection
by Vianey A. Candelas-Urrea, Carlos Villa-Angulo, Iván O. Hernández-Fuentes, Ricardo Morales-Carbajal and Rafael Villa-Angulo
Coatings 2024, 14(9), 1133; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14091133 - 3 Sep 2024
Viewed by 1442
Abstract
CdS, CdTe, Hg0.1Cd0.9Te, CdTe, and Ag films were progressively electrodeposited on ITO-coated soda–lime glass to manufacture a short- and mid-wavelength infrared photodetector. A distinctive feature of the applied electrodeposition method is the use of a non-aqueous solution containing ethylene [...] Read more.
CdS, CdTe, Hg0.1Cd0.9Te, CdTe, and Ag films were progressively electrodeposited on ITO-coated soda–lime glass to manufacture a short- and mid-wavelength infrared photodetector. A distinctive feature of the applied electrodeposition method is the use of a non-aqueous solution containing ethylene glycol (EG) as the electrolyte in a traditional three-electrode configuration for every film deposition. Using EG as a supplementary electrolyte and using the same deposition conditions with a potential below 0.75 V for all film coatings reduces their environmental incompatibility and offers a low-cost and low-energy route for fabricating the reported photodetector. The produced photodetector has a sensitivity of up to ≈957 nm with a detectivity (D*) of 2.86 × 1012 cm Hz1/2 W−1 and a dark current density (Jdark) of 10−6 mA cm−2. Furthermore, the manufactured photodiode exhibits self-powered performance because Voc and Jsc are self-generated, unlike previously reported photodiodes. The presented all-layer electrodeposition assembly approach can easily be adapted to fabricate sensing devices for different applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optical Coatings: From Materials to Applications)
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15 pages, 10232 KiB  
Article
Fabrication of Thermally Evaporated CuIx Thin Films and Their Characteristics for Solar Cell Applications
by Kiseok Jeon, Min-Joon Park, Sung-Min Youn, Sangwoo Lim and Chaehwan Jeong
Coatings 2024, 14(8), 975; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14080975 - 2 Aug 2024
Viewed by 990
Abstract
Carrier-selective contacts (CSCs) for high-efficiency heterojunction solar cells have been widely studied due to their advantages of processing at relatively low temperatures and simple fabrication processes. Transition metal oxide (TMO) (e.g., molybdenum oxide, vanadium oxide, and tungsten oxide) thin films are widely used [...] Read more.
Carrier-selective contacts (CSCs) for high-efficiency heterojunction solar cells have been widely studied due to their advantages of processing at relatively low temperatures and simple fabrication processes. Transition metal oxide (TMO) (e.g., molybdenum oxide, vanadium oxide, and tungsten oxide) thin films are widely used as hole-selective contacts (HSCs, required work function for Si solar cells > 5.0 eV). However, when TMO thin films are used, difficulties are faced in uniform deposition. In this study, we fabricated a copper (I) iodide (CuI) thin film (work function > 5.0 eV) that remained relatively stable during atmospheric exposure compared with TMO thin films and employed it as an HSC layer in an n-type Si solar cell. To facilitate efficient hole collection, we conducted iodine annealing at temperatures of 100–180 °C to enhance the film’s electrical characteristics (carrier density and carrier mobility). Subsequently, we fabricated CSC Si solar cells using the annealed CuIx layer, which achieved an efficiency of 6.42%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optical Coatings: From Materials to Applications)
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14 pages, 5089 KiB  
Article
Natural Light Rechargeable Night Peal-like Coatings for Expressway
by Xin Li, Rong Chen, Rui Xiao, Wenjie Li, Te Si, Peiyang Li and Qi Zhu
Coatings 2024, 14(5), 566; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14050566 - 2 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1156
Abstract
Traditional roadway lighting is intended to provide safe guidance for drivers and pedestrians, but the large-scale application of roadway lighting has resulted in significant energy consumption and light pollution. However, road markings prepared by luminous coating are a kind of multi-functional road marking [...] Read more.
Traditional roadway lighting is intended to provide safe guidance for drivers and pedestrians, but the large-scale application of roadway lighting has resulted in significant energy consumption and light pollution. However, road markings prepared by luminous coating are a kind of multi-functional road marking that can meet the needs of highway lighting at night and save energy. Here, CaAl2O4:Eu2+,Nd3+,Gd3+ blue long-afterglow phosphor is obtained by the high-temperature solid-state method, and the blue luminescent coating is synthesized by the blending method. The phase composition, microscopic morphology, luminescence properties and water resistance of the phosphor and luminescent coatings are characterized. The best components and processes of the luminescent coating are explored to meet the application of an expressway. Considering the afterglow’s performance, the optimal calcination temperature of the phosphor is determined to be 1300 °C. The afterglow of the phosphor can be over 8 h after 2 h of daylight excitation. The addition of 1.25% SiO2 to the luminescent coating improves the uniformity of the components, and the incorporation of 3.5% CaCO3 improves the denseness of the coating. When the coating thickness is 0.8mm, the luminescent coating can achieve the best luminous effect. After 120 h of immersion in water, the afterglow intensity of the luminescent coating reduced to 70% of the original, which has excellent water resistance. The blue luminescent coating with the addition of appropriate amounts of CaCO3 and SiO2 improves the dispersion as well as the densification of the components in the coating to achieve the best luminescent effect. In the Shenyang area, different weather conditions (cloudy, sunny, rainy) have no significant effect on the afterglow performance of the luminescent coatings, all of which can achieve over 5 h of afterglow and are suitable for expressways. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optical Coatings: From Materials to Applications)
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12 pages, 5797 KiB  
Article
Coating Red Phosphor on Green Luminescent Material for Multi-Mode Luminescence and Advanced Anti-Counterfeit Applications
by Jiale Liu, Bo Chen and Qi Zhu
Coatings 2024, 14(4), 509; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14040509 - 19 Apr 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1691
Abstract
Traditional fluorescent anti-counterfeiting materials usually exhibit fixed-wavelength excitation patterns and monochromatic luminescence, which are extremely easy to be counterfeited and have low security. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop multi-mode fluorescent materials with enhanced security to address this issue. Here, SrAl [...] Read more.
Traditional fluorescent anti-counterfeiting materials usually exhibit fixed-wavelength excitation patterns and monochromatic luminescence, which are extremely easy to be counterfeited and have low security. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop multi-mode fluorescent materials with enhanced security to address this issue. Here, SrAl2O4:1%Eu,2%Dy@Y2O3:Eu3+ core-shell structured phosphors were prepared via a sol-gel method. Coating SrAl2O4:Eu,Dy with Y2O3:Eu3+ red phosphor did not significantly change the crystal structure of SrAl2O4. Under UV excitation at 254 nm, SrAl2O4:1%Eu,2%Dy@Y2O3:Eu3+ exhibited red emission at 613 nm (5D0→7F2 transition of Eu3+), and a strong green afterglow was observed after removing the UV irradiation. However, blue-green emission at 496 nm was observed under UV excitation at 365 nm, followed by green afterglow upon removal of the light source. Varying the content of the Y2O3:Eu3+ shell yielded different emissions and afterglows. The prepared samples are sensitive to the excitation wavelength and duration and have multimodal luminescence properties, which can be used for anti-counterfeiting patterns. The outcomes in this work indicate that the phosphor is a promising fluorescent material for anti-counterfeiting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optical Coatings: From Materials to Applications)
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Review

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25 pages, 5212 KiB  
Review
Application of Optical Fiber Sensing Technology and Coating Technology in Blood Component Detection and Monitoring
by Wenwen Qu, Yanxia Chen, Chaoqun Ma, Donghong Peng, Xuanyao Bai, Jiaxin Zhao, Shuangqiang Liu and Le Luo
Coatings 2024, 14(2), 173; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14020173 - 30 Jan 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4431
Abstract
The advantages of optical fiber sensors include their miniaturization, strong anti-interference ability, high sensitivity, low cost, and fast response speed. They can be used for in situ detection in harsh environments, making them suitable for a wide range of applications such as blood [...] Read more.
The advantages of optical fiber sensors include their miniaturization, strong anti-interference ability, high sensitivity, low cost, and fast response speed. They can be used for in situ detection in harsh environments, making them suitable for a wide range of applications such as blood detection and monitoring. This technology holds great potential for medical diagnosis and health monitoring, opening up new possibilities in the field. Coating technology plays a crucial role in enhancing the sensitivity and stability of optical fiber sensors, ultimately improving their measurement accuracy and reliability. This manuscript expounds the application status and progression of optical fiber sensors in the determination of blood glucose concentrations, blood pH, diverse proteins in blood, and physical properties of blood. The principle of optical fiber sensors and the application of coating technology for detecting varying targets are scrutinized in detail, with particular emphasis on the advantages and limitations of distinct design schemes. The adept amalgamation of optical fiber sensing technology and coating technology amplifies the adaptability of optical fiber sensors in diverse practical scenarios, thereby presenting novel instruments and methodologies for researchers in pertinent fields to augment their advancement and development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optical Coatings: From Materials to Applications)
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