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A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Manufacturing Processes and Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2027 | Viewed by 2990

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Dr. Mariusz Jasinski

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Institute of Fluid Flow Machinery, Polish Academy of Sciences, Gdańsk, Poland
Interests: development of microwave plasma sources; applications of microwave plasma; diagnostics of microwave plasma
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Materials is intended to provide a description of devices and processes related to the advances in plasma and laser engineering. Plasma is called the fourth state of matter because its properties differ significantly from those of ordinary gas. Plasma can be considered a conductive medium generated by the ionization of gases. Therefore, it occurs as a mixture of photons, electrons, and ions, but it can also contain neutral atoms and molecules. The concept of plasma includes media with very different properties because the composition, densities, and kinetic energies of plasma components differ for various types of plasma by several or even more orders of magnitude.

A laser is a device that emits electromagnetic radiation in the visible, ultraviolet, or infrared range, using the phenomenon of forced emission. Laser radiation is coherent, usually polarized, and has the form of a beam with very little divergence. In a laser, it is easy to obtain radiation with a very small line width, which is equivalent to very high power in a selected narrow spectral region. With pulsed lasers, it is possible to obtain a very high power in a pulse and a very short pulse duration.

Both plasma devices and lasers can have different designs, properties, and applications. Plasma and laser applications include, but are not limited to, the production of new materials and the improvement in the properties of existing materials. The plasma or laser treatment of materials may lead to physicochemical changes in the structure of their surfaces. This Special Issue aims to showcase advances in plasma and laser engineering for all materials.

Best regards,

Dr. Mariusz Jasinski
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 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. 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

plasma deposition
laser deposition
plasma treatment of materials
laser treatment of materials
plasma activation of surfaces
laser activation of surfaces
pulsed plasmas
pulsed lasers
new materials
plasma sources
laser sources
plasma engineering
laser engineering

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Related Special Issue

Advances in Plasma and Laser Engineering in Materials (9 articles)

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 3618 KB

Open AccessArticle

Laser-Induced Surface Modification of Graphene-Modified KM2-600 Para-Aramid Fabrics: Morphological and Topographical Analysis

by Jēkabs Lapa, Ieva Baķe, Imants Adijāns, Silvija Kukle, Uģis Briedis, Ērika Teirumnieka and Lyubomir Lazov

Materials 2026, 19(10), 2078; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19102078 - 15 May 2026

Viewed by 272

Abstract

Ballistic para-aramid fabrics are widely used in personal protection and defense applications due to their high strength-to-weight ratio, thermal stability, and durability. This study investigates the influence of laser-based surface modification on graphene-modified Kevlar^® KM2-600 (600 dtex) fabrics, with a particular focus on surface morphology and topographical characteristics of para-aramid fabrics used in ballistic applications. The deposition of graphene onto para-aramid fibers introduces new opportunities for surface engineering, while laser processing enables localized and controlled modification of the fiber surface without compromising the integrity of the bulk material. In this work, graphene-modified Kevlar^® KM2-600 fabrics were subjected to controlled laser processing under various parameter settings, and the resulting surface modifications were systematically analyzed. Three-dimensional laser microscopy was employed to characterize surface morphology and roughness, providing detailed insight into laser-induced topographical changes. The results demonstrate that optimized laser processing enables controlled surface restructuring while avoiding severe thermal damage, particularly when appropriate mechanical stabilization and focal conditions are maintained. Under identical laser processing conditions (Matrix II, q = 3.65 × 10⁴ W/cm²), the mean arithmetic roughness increased from 4.57 ± 1.04 µm for the unmodified fabric to 5.54 ± 1.05 µm for the graphene-modified fabric, while the mean root mean square roughness increased from 5.76 ± 1.41 µm to 6.95 ± 1.39 µm. These findings contribute to an improved understanding of laser–graphene–aramid interactions and provide a foundation for future studies addressing the potential functional implications of surface modification in lightweight protective textiles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plasma and Laser Engineering (Third Edition))

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27 pages, 6161 KB

Open AccessArticle

Multi-Response Optimisation of Thermal Barrier Coating Performance Based on Grey-Based Fuzzy Approach

by Zhe Zou and Mingder Jean

Materials 2026, 19(6), 1110; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19061110 - 12 Mar 2026

Viewed by 522

Abstract

This study applies grey theory alongside fuzzy models based on Taguchi design experiments to optimise the performance of coatings for multiple responses, which enhances the quality of plasma-sprayed ceramic coatings. An L18 orthogonal array experiment with eight control factors was conducted, and the impact of the control parameters on the surface properties of the coatings was critically evaluated. In addition, an analysis of variance was conducted, and the surface structure of the coatings was examined using SEM. The multi-response characteristics of surface roughness, porosity, hardness, coating thickness and wear depth values during the spraying of ceramic coatings were studied comparatively through optimisation. In addition, a confirmation experiment was conducted. The experimental results show that surface roughness was reduced by 15.96%, porosity by 65.35%, hardness by 34.60%, wear depth by 34.04%, and coating thickness by 32.01% through optimal factors by plasma spraying coatings. Overall, a 48.94% improvement in multi-properties was observed when compared to the initial settings. Based on the above results, this study employed Taguchi methods to optimize the modeling of plasma spraying using grey-based fuzzy theory, thereby significantly enhancing the multi-response quality of plasma-sprayed coatings. The expected outcomes in terms of coating surface properties have also been achieved by these results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plasma and Laser Engineering (Third Edition))

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12 pages, 2276 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Electrical Potential and Cell Immobilisation Capacity of a Laser-Treated Titanium Alloy Surface

by Arturs Abolins, Alberta Aversa, Yuri Dekhtyar, Maris Dortins, Marks Gorohovs, Galina Khroustalyova, Lyubomir Lazov, Arturs Mamajevs, Mohammed Awad Hassan Olaish, Aleksander Rapoport, Elizabete Skrebele, Hermanis Sorokins and Edmunds Sprudzs

Materials 2026, 19(6), 1051; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19061051 - 10 Mar 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 443

Abstract

Titanium and its alloys are widely used in endoprostheses. The naturally formed titanium dioxide film on titanium surfaces improves chemical stability and enhances implant biocompatibility. However, oxidised titanium surfaces may also promote bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation, contributing to implant-associated infections. Therefore, surface modification represents a key strategy for controlling microbial–implant interactions. This article focuses widely used titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V treated with a laser beam, which induces surface colour changes as a result of oxide formation. Laser processing enables controlled formation of micro- and nanoscale features, structural reconstructions, and defects that may influence the surface electrical charge and, consequently, cell immobilisation. Thus, the surface colour, electrical potential, and cell immobilisation capacity are likely interrelated. From a manufacturing perspective, titanium oxide colouring facilitates quality control and process reproducibility, as surface colour provides a rapid, non-destructive visual indicator of oxide thickness and treatment consistency. This study aims to identify correlations among surface colour, electrical potential, and cell immobilisation capacity on laser-treated titanium alloys. A relationship between the optical properties, electronic structure, and biological response of laser-processed titanium oxide films is established. Specifically, the blue colour saturation of the oxide film is inversely correlated with the electron work function. A more saturated blue corresponds to a lower work function, indicating a higher positive surface charge density. This shift is attributed to changes in electron affinity, likely resulting from laser-induced structural reconstruction and defect formation within the oxide layer. The proposed changes in electronic structure are supported by modifications in the electronic density of states, analysed using near-threshold photoelectron spectroscopy. The biological response is directly linked to these physical changes: enhanced immobilisation of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) cells on the treated alloy surface correlates with the electron work function. These results may assist in the development of controlled titanium oxide surfaces with enhanced biocompatibility. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plasma and Laser Engineering (Third Edition))

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15 pages, 11383 KB

Open AccessArticle

Simultaneous Strength and Elongation Enhancement of Al-5Si Alloy and Welding Performance via Trace Cu/La Addition

by Wenwen Wu, Xianqi Meng, Sanxuan Han, Jingbo Liu, Xiaowei Lei and Nan Wang

Materials 2026, 19(4), 730; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19040730 - 13 Feb 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 399

Abstract

The addition of Cu or La plays an important role in microstructure and property manipulation of 4xxx series Al-Si alloys. However, the effects of Cu-La hybrid modification on the microstructure and properties of Al-5Si alloys and welding performance remain unclear. In this paper, the influence of Cu-La addition on the strength and elongation of one commercial Al-5Si alloy and the welding joint characterization are investigated. The results show that the addition of Cu-La can refine α-(Al) and Fe-rich phase and improve the fluidity. Meanwhile, the elongation can be improved by Cu-La microalloying, which is beneficial for the manufacturing filler wire. The uniform distribution of Cu in the alloy but not segregation at grain boundaries due to La addition is the key factor to adjust the mechanical properties. Moreover, the filler materials were used to conduct metal inert gas welding on 6061 alloy. It reveals that, with Cu-La addition, the weld pool width increases and porosity defect decreases significantly. This is ascribed to Cu-La co-addition enhancing wettability and fluidity, which improves the welding performance. Our results offer an effective strategy for manufacturing and optimizing welding performance of welding wires. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plasma and Laser Engineering (Third Edition))

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21 pages, 7862 KB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Laser Deposition of Metal Oxide Structures for Gas Sensor Applications

by Nikolay Nedyalkov, Anna Dikovska, Tina Dilova, Genoveva Atanasova, Reni Andreeva and Georgi Avdeev

Materials 2026, 19(1), 176; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma19010176 - 3 Jan 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 896

Abstract

This work presents results on laser-induced fabrication of metal and oxide structures on glass substrates. The Laser-Induced Reverse Transfer (LIRT) technique is applied using Zn and Sn, sintered ZnO and SnO₂, and oxide composite targets. The processing is performed by nanosecond pulses of a Nd:YAG laser system operated at wavelength of 1064 nm. Detailed analyses of the deposited material morphology, composition and structure are presented, as the role of the processing conditions is revealed. It is found that at the applied conditions of using up to five laser pulses, the deposited material is composed of a nanostructured film covered in microsized nanoparticle clusters or droplets. The use of metal targets leads to formation of structures composed of metal and oxide phases. The adhesion test shows that part of the deposited material is stably adhered to the substrate surface. It is demonstrated that the deposited materials can be used as resistive gas sensors with sensitivity to NH₃, CO, ethanol, acetone and N₂O, at concentrations of 30 ppm. The ability of the method to deposit composite structures that consist of a mixture of both investigated oxides is also demonstrated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plasma and Laser Engineering (Third Edition))

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