Advanced Synthesis of Thin Films for Photonic Applications

Dear Colleagues,

The fast advancements of photonics rely greatly on the capability of synthesizing high-quality crystalline thin films with precise control over their optical properties and structural integrity. The bridge between growth parameters of the thin films and the resulting light–matter interaction is a critical frontier in materials science. Whether through material selection, device structure, or deposition method, the desired functional properties of the thin films required for low-loss light manipulation remain a significant challenge.

This Special Issue aims to gather the latest research on the synthesis, growth mechanisms, and properties analysis of the thin films tailored for photonic functionality. We encourage submissions that explore how advanced growth techniques can be optimized to produce films with tailored functional properties such as superior optical quality, minimal scattering, or targeted refractive index engineering.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Advanced deposition techniques for optical grade films;
• Crystalline quality control and its impact on optical devices;
• Synthesis of low-loss crystalline thin films for waveguides and resonators;
• In situ monitoring of crystal growth in photonic thin films;
• Doping and stoichiometry control for tunable optical properties;
• Tailored optical and electrical properties in heterostructures and superlattices. 

You are kindly invited to submit your state-of-the-art research to this Special Issue.

Dr. Nicu Doinel Scarisoreanu
Dr. Marian Zamfirescu
Dr. Mihai Sopronyi
Guest Editors

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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-anonymized 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.