Advanced Surface Technology and Coating Materials
A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Thin Films and Interfaces".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 March 2026 | Viewed by 36
Special Issue Editor
Interests: spacecraft environmental engineering; surface effects and protection of space materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Advanced surface technologies and functional coatings are pivotal to enhancing the performance, durability, and sustainability of modern engineering systems across aerospace, energy, biomedical, and industrial sectors. These systems encompass atomically engineered thin films, nanoscale multilayers, and macro-structured composites designed to withstand complex mechanical, thermal, chemical, electrical, and biological stimuli. Their rapid evolution demands rigorous analysis of synthesis routes—including atomic/molecular layer deposition (ALD/MLD), plasma-enhanced PVD/CVD, sol–gel processing, electrochemical growth, and additive manufacturing—alongside validation of long-term functionality under extreme operational conditions such as space exposure, high-temperature corrosion, and tribological stress.
Advanced coatings must fulfill dual critical requirements: structural functions (high adhesion strength, fracture toughness, wear/erosion resistance, and thermal stability under quasi-static, dynamic, or impact loads) and non-structural functions (smart responsiveness, including self-healing, environmental sustainability, biocompatibility, and barriers against atomic oxygen, UV radiation, or corrosive media). A thorough understanding of how nano/micro-scale processes govern macroscopic properties—particularly degradation mechanisms in extreme environments—is essential for designing next-generation systems.
The aim of this Special Issue, titled “Advanced Surface Technology and Coating Materials”, is to bridge innovative fabrication with real-world performance through multiscale process–structure–property–performance studies. We seek contributions that elucidate the following: (1) linkages between synthesis techniques (e.g., green manufacturing with bio-derived precursors) and microstructural defects; (2) quantitative evaluation of service behavior in simulated extreme environments—both in space (atomic oxygen erosion, thermal cycling from −180 °C to +150 °C, radiation damage, vacuum outgassing) and terrestrial (high-temperature oxidation > 1000 °C, erosion–corrosion synergy, biofluid aging); and (3) predictive modeling integrating in situ characterization and accelerated life testing to forecast coating reliability in critical applications.
Prof. Dr. Qiang Wei
Guest Editor
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. Materials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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.
Keywords
- multiscale manufacturing (nano to macro)
- surface engineering
- functional coatings
- atomic layer deposition
- extreme-environment performance evaluation
- AI-driven performance prediction
- accelerated life testing
- in situ characterization
- smart functional coatings
- corrosion/oxidation resistance
- bio-compatible films
- tribology
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.