Research on the Structural Evolution and Properties of High-Performance Coatings and Thin Films

A special issue of Crystals (ISSN 2073-4352).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 July 2025 | Viewed by 122

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
School of Materials Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, China
Interests: high-performance coatings; thin films; advanced coatings; materials design; characterization methods; corrosion Science

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Guest Editor
School of Materials Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China
Interests: crystals; thin films; coatings; high entropy alloy; growth and characterization

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Guest Editor
School of Metallurgical Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan 243002, China
Interests: microstructure characterization; metal processing and mechanical property control; micro-nano mechanics; hydrogen embrittlement; nanotribology; nanolubricants; steels
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The development of high-performance coatings and thin films is critical for addressing the increasing demands for their application in areas such as extreme environments, energy systems, and next-generation electronics. This Special Issue focuses on the structural evolution and multifunctional properties of coatings and thin films, aiming to highlight innovative research into their material design, processing techniques, and characterization methods. Contributions exploring the relationship between microstructure and properties, advanced fabrication processes (e.g., HiPIMS, CVD, PVD), and the integration of computational methods like machine learning and high-throughput simulations are particularly encouraged. Topics of interest for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Advanced coatings for extreme conditions (high temperature, wear, corrosion).
  • The design and synthesis of thin films with tailored mechanical, optical, or electrical properties.
  • In situ and ex situ techniques for structural characterization.
  • Modeling and simulation-driven approaches used to optimize film growth and properties.
  • Innovative methodologies for scalable and sustainable coating technologies.

Prof. Dr. Jian Peng
Dr. Junjun Wang
Prof. Dr. Wenzhen Xia
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Crystals 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 2100 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

  • high-performance coatings
  • thin films
  • structural evolution
  • advanced fabrication techniques
  • computational material design

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

25 pages, 3962 KiB  
Review
Tailoring the Functional Properties of Ferroelectric Perovskite Thin Films: Mechanisms of Dielectric and Photoelectrochemical Enhancement
by Ioan-Mihail Ghitiu, George Alexandru Nemnes and Nicu Doinel Scarisoreanu
Crystals 2025, 15(6), 496; https://doi.org/10.3390/cryst15060496 - 23 May 2025
Abstract
Various types of strain, as well as chemical pressure induced by dopants, can effectively tailor the performance of perovskite thin films, including their optical, electrical or photoelectrochemical properties. The control of these functional properties through such engineering techniques is key to fulfilling the [...] Read more.
Various types of strain, as well as chemical pressure induced by dopants, can effectively tailor the performance of perovskite thin films, including their optical, electrical or photoelectrochemical properties. The control of these functional properties through such engineering techniques is key to fulfilling the application-specific requirements of ferroelectric devices in various fields. Numerous models and experimental data have been published on this subject, especially on ferrite-based ferroelectric materials. Within this paper, the mechanisms of tuning ferroelectric intrinsic properties, such as polarization and ferroelectric domain configurations, through epitaxial strain and doping, as well as the role of these techniques in influencing functional properties such as dielectric and photoelectrochemical ones, are presented. This review examines the significant improvements in dielectric properties and photoelectrochemical efficiency achieved by the strategical control of key functionalities including dielectric losses, domain structures, charge separation and surface reactions in strained/doped ferroelectric thin films, highlighting the advancements and research progress made in this field in recent years. Full article
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