Self-Organized Templates for Lithography Free Hybrid Multifunctional Coatings

Dear Colleagues,

Surface layers with self-organized nanoscale structure can serve as templates for the deposition of different materials, creating new hybrid systems that can express multiple physical phenomena and simultaneously provide several useful functions. An example of such materials is porous anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) coated with metal layers, which supports structural and plasmonic modes while pores can host specific materials with tunable properties for color displays and other applications. Another example is the use of colloidal crystals as templates for deposition of other nanoparticles.

Besides the ability to overcome the limitations of software-controlled lithography, the role of ordering achieved by self-organization is enhancement or suppression of observable physical properties by creation of collectively resonant modes—optical, electronic, or mechanical.

The goal of this Special Issue is to collect the newest ideas on lithography-free processes for the synthesis of multifunctional hybrid coatings that use several levels of self-ordering, e.g., colloidal nanoparticle self-assembly on self-organized surfaces. The multiple functionality may include, but is not limited to, optical, plasmonic, photovoltaic, catalytic, self-cleaning, protective, and other useful properties in the same hybrid coating. A further function example is programmed self-disassembly, where, upon interaction with certain external stimuli, the hybrid structure can be disintegrated for the recovery of valuable materials.

Reports on experimental physicochemical synthesis, characterization, and application development of self-organized hybrids are particularly welcome.

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.

• Colloids
• plasmonics
• hybrid materials
• multilayers