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Nanomaterials in Novel Thin Films and Coatings
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Nanomaterials in Novel Thin Films and Coatings

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Science".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 January 2025) | Viewed by 5821

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Michal Cichomski

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Materials Technology and Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
Interests: nanomaterials; thin layers; self-assembled monolayers; surface modification of nanomaterials; characterization of thin layers; nanometrology; nanomechanics; nanotribology; adhesion; scanning probe microscopy; wetting of surfaces; biomimetics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The development of modern technologies, such as biotechnologies, electronics, and information technologies, requires the miniaturization of devices and systems while increasing their efficiency, reaction time, and longevity. In order to meet these requirements, new functional surface materials possessing good mechanical, tribological, anti-corrosion, and protective parameters, which reduce the wear of these devices, are being wanted. All kinds of approaches are welcome, in nanomaterials; thin layers; self-assembled monolayers; surface modification of nanomaterials; characterization of thin layers; nanometrology; nanomechanics; nanotribology; adhesion; scanning probe microscopy; wetting of surfaces; biomimetics including their practical applications.

Prof. Dr. Michal Cichomski
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • nanomaterials
  • thin layers
  • self-assembled monolayers
  • adhesion
  • friction
  • scanning probe microscopy
  • wetting of surfaces
  • biomimetics

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 5590 KiB  
Article
A Critical Comparison Among High-Resolution Methods for Spatially Resolved Nano-Scale Residual Stress Analysis in Nanostructured Coatings
by Saqib Rashid, Edoardo Rossi, Spyros Diplas, Patricia Almeida Carvalho, Damian Pucicki, Rafal Kuna and Marco Sebastiani
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(7), 3296; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26073296 - 2 Apr 2025
Viewed by 313
Abstract
Residual stresses in multilayer thin coatings represent a complex multiscale phenomenon arising from the intricate interplay of multiple factors, including the number and thickness of layers, material properties of the layers and substrate, coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatch, deposition technique and growth [...] Read more.
Residual stresses in multilayer thin coatings represent a complex multiscale phenomenon arising from the intricate interplay of multiple factors, including the number and thickness of layers, material properties of the layers and substrate, coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatch, deposition technique and growth mechanism, as well as process parameters and environmental conditions. A multiscale approach to residual stress measurement is essential for a comprehensive understanding of stress distribution in such systems. To investigate this, two AlGaN/GaN multilayer coatings with distinct layer architectures were deposited on sapphire substrates using metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy (MOVPE). High-resolution X-ray diffraction (HRXRD) was employed to confirm their epitaxial growth and structural characteristics. Focused ion beam (FIB) cross-sectioning and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) lamella preparation were performed to analyze the coating structure and determine layer thickness. Residual stresses within the multilayer coatings were evaluated using two complementary techniques: High-Resolution Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy—Graphical Phase Analysis (HRSTEM-GPA) and Focused Ion Beam—Digital Image Correlation (FIB-DIC). HRSTEM-GPA enables atomic-resolution strain mapping, making it particularly suited for investigating interface-related stresses, while FIB-DIC facilitates microscale stress evaluation. The residual strain values obtained using the FIB-DIC and HRSTEM-GPA methods were −3.2 × 10⁻3 and −4.55 × 10⁻3, respectively. This study confirms that residual stress measurements at different spatial resolutions are both reliable and comparable at the required coating depths and locations, provided that a critical assessment of the characteristic scale of each method is performed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials in Novel Thin Films and Coatings)
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22 pages, 4842 KiB  
Article
Morphology-Dependent Photocatalytic Activity of Nanostructured Titanium Dioxide Coatings with Silver Nanoparticles
by Nasir Shakeel, Ireneusz Piwoński, Aneta Kisielewska, Maciej Krzywiecki, Damian Batory and Michał Cichomski
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(16), 8824; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25168824 - 13 Aug 2024
Viewed by 1342
Abstract
This study aims to improve the photocatalytic properties of titanium dioxide nanorods (TNRs) and other related nanostructures (dense nanorods, needle-like nanorods, nanoballs, and nanoflowers) by modifying them with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). This preparation is carried out using a two-step method: sol–gel dip-coating deposition [...] Read more.
This study aims to improve the photocatalytic properties of titanium dioxide nanorods (TNRs) and other related nanostructures (dense nanorods, needle-like nanorods, nanoballs, and nanoflowers) by modifying them with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). This preparation is carried out using a two-step method: sol–gel dip-coating deposition combined with hydrothermal crystal growth. Further modification with AgNPs was achieved through the photoreduction of Ag+ ions under UV illumination. The investigation explores the impact of different growth factors on the morphological development of TiO2 nanostructures by modulating (i) the chemical composition, the water:acid ratio, (ii) the precursor concentration involved in the hydrothermal process, and (iii) the duration of the hydrothermal reaction. Morphological characteristics, including the length, diameter, and nanorod density of the nanostructures, were analyzed using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The chemical states were determined through use of the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) technique, while phase composition and crystalline structure analysis was performed using the Grazing Incidence X-ray Diffraction (GIXRD) method. The results indicate that various nanostructures (dense nanorods, needle-like nanorods, nanoballs, and nanoflowers) can be obtained by modifying these parameters. The photocatalytic efficiency of these nanostructures and Ag-coated nanostructures was assessed by measuring the degradation of the organic dye rhodamine B (RhB) under both ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and visible light. The results clearly show that UV light causes the RhB solution to lose its color, whereas under visible light RhB changes into rhodamine 110, indicating a successful photocatalytic transformation. The nanoball-like structures’ modification with the active metal silver (TNRs 4 Ag) exhibited high photocatalytic efficiency under both ultraviolet (UV) and visible light for different chemical composition parameters. The nanorod structure (TNRs 2 Ag) is more efficient under UV, but under visible-light photocatalyst, the TNRs 6 Ag (dense nanorods) sample is more effective. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials in Novel Thin Films and Coatings)
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16 pages, 993 KiB  
Article
Temporal Evolution of Defects and Related Electric Properties in He-Irradiated YBa2Cu3O7−δ Thin Films
by Sandra Keppert, Bernd Aichner, Philip Rohringer, Marius-Aurel Bodea, Benedikt Müller, Max Karrer, Reinhold Kleiner, Edward Goldobin, Dieter Koelle, Johannes D. Pedarnig and Wolfgang Lang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(14), 7877; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25147877 - 18 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1317
Abstract
Thin films of the superconductor YBa2Cu3O7−δ (YBCO) were modified by low-energy light-ion irradiation employing collimated or focused He+ beams, and the long-term stability of irradiation-induced defects was investigated. For films irradiated with collimated beams, the resistance [...] Read more.
Thin films of the superconductor YBa2Cu3O7−δ (YBCO) were modified by low-energy light-ion irradiation employing collimated or focused He+ beams, and the long-term stability of irradiation-induced defects was investigated. For films irradiated with collimated beams, the resistance was measured in situ during and after irradiation and analyzed using a phenomenological model. The formation and stability of irradiation-induced defects are highly influenced by temperature. Thermal annealing experiments conducted in an Ar atmosphere at various temperatures demonstrated a decrease in resistivity and allowed us to determine diffusion coefficients and the activation energy ΔE=(0.31±0.03) eV for diffusive oxygen rearrangement within the YBCO unit cell basal plane. Additionally, thin YBCO films, nanostructured by focused He+-beam irradiation into vortex pinning arrays, displayed significant commensurability effects in magnetic fields. Despite the strong modulation of defect densities in these pinning arrays, oxygen diffusion during room-temperature annealing over almost six years did not compromise the signatures of vortex matching, which remained precisely at their magnetic fields predicted by the pattern geometry. Moreover, the critical current increased substantially within the entire magnetic field range after long-term storage in dry air. These findings underscore the potential of ion irradiation in tailoring the superconducting properties of thin YBCO films. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials in Novel Thin Films and Coatings)
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Review

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28 pages, 3093 KiB  
Review
Nanostructured Transition Metal Oxides on Carbon Fibers for Supercapacitor and Li-Ion Battery Electrodes: An Overview
by Andrés González-Banciella, David Martinez-Diaz, María Sánchez and Alejandro Ureña
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(15), 8514; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25158514 - 4 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1904
Abstract
Nowadays, owing to the new technological and industrial requirements for equipment, such as flexibility or multifunctionally, the development of all-solid-state supercapacitors and Li-ion batteries has become a goal for researchers. For these purposes, the composite material approach has been widely proposed due to [...] Read more.
Nowadays, owing to the new technological and industrial requirements for equipment, such as flexibility or multifunctionally, the development of all-solid-state supercapacitors and Li-ion batteries has become a goal for researchers. For these purposes, the composite material approach has been widely proposed due to the promising features of woven carbon fiber as a substrate material for this type of material. Carbon fiber displays excellent mechanical properties, flexibility, and high electrical conductivity, allowing it to act as a substrate and a collector at the same time. However, carbon fiber’s energy-storage capability is limited. Several coatings have been proposed for this, with nanostructured transition metal oxides being one of the most popular due to their high theoretical capacity and surface area. In this overview, the main techniques used to achieve these coatings—such as solvothermal synthesis, MOF-derived obtention, and electrochemical deposition—are summarized, as well as the main strategies for alleviating the low electrical conductivity of transition metal oxides, which is the main drawback of these materials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanomaterials in Novel Thin Films and Coatings)
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