Special Issues

Coatings publishes Special Issues to create collections of papers on specific topics, with the aim of building a community of authors and readers to discuss the latest research and develop new ideas and research directions. Special Issues are led by Guest Editors, who are experts on the topic and all Special Issue submissions follow MDPI's standard editorial process. The journal’s Editor-in-Chief and/or designated Editorial Board Member will oversee Guest Editor appointments and Special Issue proposals, checking their content for relevance and ensuring the suitability of the material for the journal. The papers published in a Special Issue will be collected and displayed on a dedicated page of the journal’s website. Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies and Guest Editor responsibilities can be found here. For any inquiries related to a Special Issue, please contact the Editorial Office.

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Advances in Coating Tribology: Smart, Sustainable and High-Performance Coatings for Next-Generation Applications
edited by
submission deadline 10 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 60 | Submission Open
Keywords: coatings for harsh environments; self-lubricating and adaptive coatings; sustainable and eco-friendly coating; tribology of coatings in additive manufacturing; coatings for medical and biomedical applications; coatings in electric vehicles; high-temperature tribology and protective coatings; artificial intelligence and computational modeling in coating tribology.
(This special issue belongs to the Section Tribology)
Advances in Optical Coatings and Thin Films submission deadline 10 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 53 | Submission Open
Keywords: thin films; optical coating; optical thin-film technology; light– matter interaction; photonics
(This special issue belongs to the Section Thin Films)
Self-Cleaning and Anti-Fouling Coatings
edited by Liming Liu and Wei Tong
submission deadline 10 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 50 | Submission Open
Keywords: coatings; self-cleaning; anti-fouling; micro-nanostructures; durability
(This special issue belongs to the Section Bioactive Coatings and Biointerfaces)
Multifunctional Thin Films from Hybrid Biopolymers and Nanomaterials: Characterization and Advanced Biomedical and Environmental Application submission deadline 10 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 24 | Submission Open
Keywords: thin films; biopolymers; nanomaterials; biological applications; environmental remediation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Thin Films)
Advanced Surface Engineering of Biocompatible Coatings: Innovation and Application
edited by Chenchen Wang and Jincan Yan
submission deadline 15 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 282 | Submission Open
Keywords: wear-resistant and corrosion-resistant coatings; biomimetic coatings; surface modification of bone implants; fretting wear at bone interfaces; biological lubricating materials
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Coatings for Biomedicine and Bioengineering)
Recent Advancement in Biological Microelectromechanical Systems (BioMEMS) and Biomimetic Coatings submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | 10 articles | Viewed by 27770 | Submission Open
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Coatings for Biomedicine and Bioengineering)
Mechanical Properties and Tribological Behavior of Alloy/Coatings, 2nd Edition
edited by
submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | 8 articles | Viewed by 8606 | Submission Open
Keywords: bioinspired hierarchical structures; graded architecture; multilayers; tribology; friction and wear
(This special issue belongs to the Section Tribology)
Coating Technologies Involving Surface Adsorption and Diffusion
edited by Yang Yang and Chengsong Zhang
submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 7654 | Submission Open
Keywords: thermal chemical treatment; film deposition; duplex treatment; adsorption; diffusion; microstructure; surface properties; first-principles calculations
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Alloy/Metal/Steel Surface: Fabrication, Structure, Friction and Service Life
edited by Yujie Fan and Zhiqiang Liu
submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 172 | Submission Open
Keywords: laser processing; surface etching; micro-texture; friction reduction; wear resistance
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Surface Treatment and Coating of Additively Manufactured Components
edited by and Fei Cheng
submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 65 | Submission Open
Keywords: optimization of additive manufacturing process parameters for surface quality; binder jetting; directed energy deposition; material extrusion; and powder bed fusion; abrasive flow machining; chemical polishing/milling; laser polishing; shot/shock peening; and vibratory finishing; coatings for aerospace; aesthetic; and biomedical purposes; coating and material characterization for adhesion; abrasion; friction; lubrication; mechanical performance; and wear; the modelling and simulation of post-manufacturing processes
(This special issue belongs to the Section Laser Coatings)
Advances in the Mechanical Properties of Polymer Films and Coatings
edited by
submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 52 | Submission Open
Keywords: mechanical behavior; polymer films and coatings; advanced characterization; durability; sustainable design
(This special issue belongs to the Section Functional Polymer Coatings and Films)
Preparation and Applications of Innovative Optoelectronic Films and Materials
edited by Hanlu Zhang, Junlu Sun and Xuexia Chen
submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 51 | Submission Open
Keywords: optoelectronic films; 2D materials; optoelectronic devices; optical coatings
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Engineering for Energy Harvesting, Conversion, and Storage)
Advanced Polishing and Finishing via Laser and Multi-Energy Field Processing
edited by , Yan Wang and Jingnan Zhao
submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 34 | Submission Open
Keywords: laser surface modification; multi-energy field composite processing; surface finishing and polishing; functional surface structures; wear and corrosion resistance
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Innovative Surface Treatment Technologies for Enhanced Coating Performance
edited by and
submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 33 | Submission Open
Keywords: surface treatments; coating performance; wear resistance; corrosion resistance; microstructure modification
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Treatments and Modifications for Wood Surface Protection and Wood Bonding
edited by
submission deadline 20 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 27 | Submission Open
Keywords: wood protection; wood modification; wood surface treatment; coating; wood adhesives
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Nanostructured Materials and Interfaces: Biomedical and Healthcare Applications submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 11759 | Submission Open
Keywords: nanostructured materials and interfaces; multifunctional surfaces; design; synthesis; and processing technologies; physical; chemical; and biological evaluations; surface characterization; biomedical and healthcare applications
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Coatings for Biomedicine and Bioengineering)
Cold Spray for Additive Manufacturing and Remanufacturing Applications
edited by and Ruitao Li
submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1417 | Submission Open
Keywords: cold spray additive manufacturing; cold spray remanufacturing; cold spray repair and restoration; cold spray fundamentals; cold spray of novel and functional materials; artificial intelligence in cold spray
(This special issue belongs to the Section Functional Polymer Coatings and Films)
Surface Integrity, Surface Properties, and Fatigue Performance of Coated Metallic Materials
edited by Weibing Dai
submission deadline 25 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 356 | Submission Open
Keywords: surface integrity; coating; lightweight materials; surface properties; fatigue performance
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Advanced Coatings and Materials for Conservation and Durability of Modern Buildings
edited by
submission deadline 28 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1560 | Submission Open
Keywords: building durability; building pathology; conservation; advanced coatings; durability testing; case studies
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Corrosion and Protection of Metal Material Surface
edited by Ruiming Su
submission deadline 28 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 20 | Submission Open
Keywords: corrosion mechanisms; protective coatings; surface modification; corrosion resistance
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Fatigue and Wear Mechanisms of Different Surface Coatings for Industrial Application submission deadline 29 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 61 | Submission Open
Keywords: wear-resistant coatings; modified metallic surfaces; mechanical failure; friction; wear; damage mechanisms
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Advances and Applications of Sustainable Food Packaging Coating submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 274 | Submission Open
Keywords: coatings; sustainable; films; food packaging; advances and applications; active and intelligent food packaging
(This special issue belongs to the Section Coatings for Food Technology and System)
Advances in Concrete and Construction Coatings: Materials, Mechanical Properties, Applications
edited by Yongjun Zhou, and
submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 190 | Submission Open
Keywords: concrete design; ultra-high-performance concrete; functional concrete; fiber-reinforced concrete; green concrete; recycled materials; life-cycle sustainability; impact resistance properties; durability; concrete surface treatment
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Innovative Coatings for Enhancing the Corrosion Resistance and Durability of Reinforced Concrete Structures submission deadline 30 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 59 | Submission Open
Keywords: coatings; concrete cover; reinforced concrete structures; durability; corrosion; protection
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Microstructure, Friction and Wear, Hardness Properties and Numerical Simulation of Coatings submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 27 articles | Viewed by 52172 | Submission Open
Keywords: surface coating technology; microstructure; coatings material design; simulation analysis; numerical simulation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Tribology)
Latest Insights in Metal Fatigue, Failure, and Fracture
edited by
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 4105 | Submission Open
Keywords: fatigue assessment; fatigue failure; fatigue damage evaluation; crack initiation and propagation; life prediction; fracture mechanisms; failure prevention
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Advanced 2D Materials and Wide-Band-Gap Compound Semiconductors: Epitaxial Growth, Characterization and Applications
edited by and Wei-Lin Wang
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1828 | Submission Open
Keywords: epitaxy; van der waals; TMDs; nitride; CVD
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Engineering for Energy Harvesting, Conversion, and Storage)
Engineered Coatings for a Sustainable Future submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 1668 | Submission Open
Keywords: recyclable; non-toxic; and biodegradable coatings; low VOC (volatile organic compounds) coatings; renewable materials and coatings; energy-efficient and resource-efficient coatings; eco-friendly coatings with a reduced environmental impact; advanced materials and coatings; high-performance coatings; durable coatings; functional coatings; corrosion resistant coatings; thermal barrier coatings; self-cleaning and self-healing coatings; antimicrobial coatings; wear resistance coatings; sustainable by design coatings
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Liquid–Solid Interfaces in Environmental Research
edited by
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 335 | Submission Open
Keywords: liquid– solid interfaces; thin-film formation; surface chemistry; adsorption kinetics; molecular dynamics at surfaces; surface modification; nanostructures; surface energy; interfacial tension; surface characterization
(This special issue belongs to the Section Environmental Aspects in Colloid and Interface Science)
Surface Engineering of Bone Implants submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 198 | Submission Open
Keywords: surface; bone implant; bioactivity; biocompatibility; biomaterials; hard tissue repair; skeleton; biomedical
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Coatings for Biomedicine and Bioengineering)
Advancements in Surface Engineering, Coatings and Tribology submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 107 | Submission Open
Keywords: coatings; surface engineering; tribology; wear resistance; surface modification
(This special issue belongs to the Section Tribology)
Coatings with Various Functionalities in Marine Environments
edited by and Yanling Yang
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 67 | Submission Open
Keywords: anti-corrosion coatings; anti-fouling coatings; self-healing coatings; nanocomposite coatings; super-hydrophobic coatings; multi-functional coatings; electrochromic coatings; surface interface characterization; service/failure evaluation of coatings
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Carbon-Based Thin Films for Enhanced Surface Properties submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 50 | Submission Open
Keywords: carbon-based thin films; two-dimensional nanostructured films; multifunctional coatings; advanced coatings; the synthesis and characterization of thin films
(This special issue belongs to the Section Thin Films)
Multifunctional Composite Coatings: Design and Performance
edited by , and Guiqiang Liang
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 42 | Submission Open
Keywords: composite; multifunctionality; self-healing materials; organic– inorganic hybrids; smart coatings; sustainable materials; advanced manufacturing; coatings
(This special issue belongs to the Section Functional Polymer Coatings and Films)
Advances in Ceramic Coatings: Fabrication, Properties and Applications in Industry, Energy and Biomedicine submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 38 | Submission Open
Keywords: ceramic coatings; thin films; high-temperature applications; wear resistance; thermal barrier coatings; surface engineering; functional materials; manufacturing techniques; corrosion resistance; biomedical coatings
(This special issue belongs to the Section Ceramic Coatings and Engineering Technology)
Advances in Surface and Coatings Technologies
edited by , Ana Violeta Girão and
submission deadline 31 Jan 2026 | Viewed by 17 | Submission Open
Keywords: surface engineering; biosensors; functional coatings; remediation; extreme environments; coating technologies; reliability coatings
(This special issue belongs to the Section Plasma Coatings, Surfaces & Interfaces)
Corrosion Resistance of Innovative Composite Coatings Based on Nanoparticles submission deadline 10 Feb 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 5193 | Submission Open
Keywords: coatings; nanoparticles; graphene; composite coating; antifouling; antimicrobial; nanotechnology; corrosion
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Recent Advances in Surface Functionalisation, 2nd Edition submission deadline 10 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 1416 | Submission Open
Keywords: texturing; surface modification; wetting behavior; surface finish; surface characterization; wear resistance treatment; corrosion resistance surface treatment; tribological applications; coatings
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Laser Welding and Cladding for Enhanced Mechanical Performance
edited by Egidijus Vanagas
submission deadline 10 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 54 | Submission Open
Keywords: coatings; coating engineering; laser-assisted coatings; laser welding; laser cladding; laser peening; CW laser; nanosecond laser; picosecond laser; femtosecond laser; metal– metal welding/cladding; glass– metal welding/cladding; plastic– metal welding/cladding; glass– glass welding/cladding
(This special issue belongs to the Section Laser Coatings)
Coatings Design and Characterization Using AI and Machine Learning Methods
edited by Yuyun Yang
submission deadline 10 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 13 | Submission Open
Keywords: coatings design; material characterization; artificial intelligence (AI); machine learning (ML); data-driven design
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Research Progress and Application of Super-hydrophobic Anti-icing Surface
edited by Qiang He and
submission deadline 15 Feb 2026 | 4 articles | Viewed by 7283 | Submission Open
Keywords: icing; anti-deicing; superhydrophobic surface; aviation safety; energy conservation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Liquid–Fluid Coatings, Surfaces and Interfaces)
Advanced Materials for Safe and Smart Food Packaging
edited by Deniz Turan
submission deadline 15 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 32 | Submission Open
Keywords: sustainable and biodegradable smart materials; active and responsive coatings; data-driven material design for packaging; nanomaterials for food safety and sensing; real-time intelligent packaging applications
(This special issue belongs to the Section Coatings for Food Technology and System)
Anti-Icing Coatings for Aviation and Renewable Energy
edited by
submission deadline 15 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 8 | Submission Open
Keywords: anti-icing coatings; icephobic surfaces; surface engineering; renewable energy; aviation safety
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Effective Coating Barriers for Protection of Reinforced Concrete, 2nd Edition
edited by and
submission deadline 20 Feb 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 7925 | Submission Open
Keywords: concrete; epoxy coatings; protective coating; innovative coatings
(This special issue belongs to the Section Thin Films)
Investigation on Structure and Corrosion Resistance of Steels/Alloys, 2nd Edition
edited by and
submission deadline 20 Feb 2026 | 5 articles | Viewed by 4090 | Submission Open
Keywords: microstructure; corrosion properties; corrosion resistance; alloys and steels
(This special issue belongs to the Section Corrosion, Wear and Erosion)
Wear and Tribology Properties of Materials, Films and Coatings
edited by , Jeng Haur Horng and
submission deadline 20 Feb 2026 | 1 articles | Viewed by 485 | Submission Open
Keywords: coating; engineering materials; friction; wear; lubrication; simulation; contact mechanism
(This special issue belongs to the Section Thin Films)
Deposition-Based Coating Solutions for Enhanced Surface Properties
edited by , and Dandan Ma
submission deadline 20 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 53 | Submission Open
Keywords: deposition technology; surface strengthening; wear resistance; corrosion resistance; hard coatings
(This special issue belongs to the Section Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification)
Characterization and Applications of Bioactive Coatings
edited by and
submission deadline 20 Feb 2026 | Viewed by 36 | Submission Open
Keywords: bioactive coatings; surface engineering; stimuli-responsive systems; biomedical applications; clinical translation
(This special issue belongs to the Section Bioactive Coatings and Biointerfaces)
Advances in Polymer Composites, Coatings and Adhesive Materials submission deadline 25 Feb 2026 | 3 articles | Viewed by 2379 | Submission Open
Keywords: polymer composites; coatings; adhesive materials; oligomers; monomers
(This special issue belongs to the Section Functional Polymer Coatings and Films)
Accelerated Development of Nanomaterials, Coatings, and Thin Films for Optical and Electronic Applications
edited by Žiga Gosar
submission deadline 25 Feb 2026 | 2 articles | Viewed by 2266 | Submission Open
Keywords: deposition techniques; optical characterization; electronic device fabrication; nanostructured materials; surface functionalization; thin film growth mechanisms; semiconductor nanocrystals; optoelectronic devices
(This special issue belongs to the Section Thin Films)
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