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Nanostructured Materials and Thin Films for Advanced Engineering Applications and Green Sustainable Solutions

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A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "2D and Carbon Nanomaterials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2026) | Viewed by 4052

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Talha Bin Yaqub

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Guest Editor

Laboratory for Tribology and Interface Nanotechnology, University of Ljubljana, Bogišićeva 8, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Interests: nanomaterials; surface engineering; thin films; PVD magnetron sputtering; solid lubricants; tribological properties; 2D materials

Dr. Jicheng Ding

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Co-Guest Editor

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University of Technology, Maanshan 243002, China
Interests: PVD hard coating technology; carbon-based film
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Hongbo Ju

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Co-Guest Editor

School of Material Science and Engineering, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang 212003, China
Interests: PVD; hard coatings; tribological properties
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanostructured materials and thin films are at the forefront of engineering innovation, offering enhanced performance for a wide range of advanced applications. These materials are engineered at the atomic scale to deliver remarkable mechanical strength, thermal stability, and electrical conductivity, making them essential in industries like aerospace, automotive, electronics, and energy. One of the most promising areas of application is tribology, where nanostructured coatings and films significantly improve wear resistance, reduce friction, and extend the service life of components under extreme conditions.

Beyond performance, the push for sustainability and green energy is reshaping how these materials are developed. Nanostructured coatings, particularly those utilizing eco-friendly or renewable components, provide green solutions by reducing energy consumption, minimizing waste, and lowering the carbon footprint of manufacturing processes. As the demand for more sustainable technologies grows, these advanced materials offer a crucial pathway to achieving both high functionality and environmental responsibility.

This Special Issue of Nanomaterials explores the intersection of tribology, advanced engineering, and sustainability. It features cutting-edge research on nanostructured materials and thin films for energy-efficient coatings, renewable energy systems, and eco-friendly devices, highlighting their potential to drive both technological and environmental innovations. The scope of manuscript includes but is not limited to the following:

Fundamentals and novel concepts in surface engineering technologies;
Soft low-friction and wear-resistant coatings for green mobility applications;
Self-lubricant coatings for advanced applications;
Nanostructured materials and additives for anti-friction and anti-wear performance;
Nanomaterials and alloys for energy conservation and sustainable technologies;
Advanced characterization techniques for nanomaterials and thin films;
Simulation of the microstructure and performances of hard coatings.

Dr. Talha Bin Yaqub
Dr. Jicheng Ding
Dr. Hongbo Ju
Guest Editors

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Keywords

nanostructured materials
thin films
tribology
sustainable engineering
green mobility technology
wear and friction resistance
eco-friendly materials
simulations

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 2223 KB

Open AccessArticle

Multiferroic Pb(Zr_0.52Ti_0.48)O₃-CoFe₂O₄ Janus-Type Nanofibers and Their Nanoscale Magnetoelectric Coupling

by Qingfeng Zhu, Ting Wang, Junfeng Zhao, Haijuan Mei and Weiping Gong

Nanomaterials 2026, 16(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano16010002 - 19 Dec 2025

Viewed by 597

Abstract

One-dimensional (1D) multiferroic composite nanofibers are known to exhibit enhanced magnetoelectric (ME) coupling compared to their thin-film and bulk counterparts with similar compositions. While measuring their local ME coupling at the nanoscale is essential for understanding multiferroic interactions, it remains challenging due to their complex structure. In this work, multiferroic Pb(Zr_0.52Ti_0.48)O₃-CoFe₂O₄ (PZT-CFO) Janus-type nanofibers were synthesized by electrospinning. This unique structure is expected to provide a more compact and continuous interface between the ferroelectric and ferromagnetic phases compared to core–shell configurations. X-ray diffraction confirmed the coexistence of the perovskite PZT and spinel CFO phases without detectable impurities. The Janus configuration was directly verified by scanning electron microscopy and Kelvin probe force microscopy, which revealed a distinct surface potential contrast between the two halves of a single nanofiber. Magnetic hysteresis loops demonstrated the macroscopic ferromagnetic behavior of the nanofiber assembly. Local magnetoelectric coupling was probed using piezoresponse force microscopy under an applied magnetic field. An enhancement of the intrinsic piezoresponse from 15 pm to 19 pm. was observed upon applying an 8000 Oe magnetic field, providing direct evidence of strain-mediated ME coupling at the nanoscale. Although no ferroelectric domain switching was observed, likely due to the substrate clamping effect, the observed piezoresponse modulation confirms the functional ME interaction. These findings suggest that the Janus nanofibers hold promise for applications in one-dimensional multiferroic devices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials and Thin Films for Advanced Engineering Applications and Green Sustainable Solutions)

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14 pages, 4507 KB

Open AccessArticle

Improved Optoelectronic Properties and Temporal Stability of AZO/Cu/AZO Films by Inserting an Ultrathin Al Layer

by Haijuan Mei, Rui Wang, Jianming Deng, Yi Yu, Yimeng Song, Zhenting Zhao, Junfeng Zhao, Qiuguo Li, Zhaohui Guo, Cihong Lin and Weiping Gong

Nanomaterials 2025, 15(23), 1780; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15231780 - 26 Nov 2025

Viewed by 565

Abstract

An ultrathin Al layer was introduced into AZO/Cu/AZO films to further enhance the optoelectronic performance. The AZO/Al/Cu/AZO films were deposited on glass substrates by DC and RF magnetron sputtering; the microstructure and optoelectronic properties were analyzed by XRD, SEM, AFM, TEM, visible spectrophotometer, and Hall effect measurement system. The results indicated that the Al layer played a crucial role in modulating the crystallization behavior and optoelectronic properties of the films, exhibiting a distinct thickness-threshold effect. At an Al layer thickness of 1 nm, the film exhibited optimal optoelectronic performance, achieving a high F_OM of 0.71 Ω⁻¹, a high transmittance of 85%, and a low resistivity of 5.7 × 10⁻⁵ Ω·cm. However, when the Al layer thickness exceeded 1 nm, the crystallinity of the films deteriorated significantly, the grain boundary scattering and light absorption effect enhanced, leading to the deterioration of photoelectric properties. The introduction of the Al layer significantly improved the stability of the films, and the AZO/Al(2 nm)/Cu/AZO film exhibited the best temporal stability after being exposed to air for 20 months. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials and Thin Films for Advanced Engineering Applications and Green Sustainable Solutions)

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14 pages, 8240 KB

Open AccessArticle

Microstructure and Optoelectronic Properties of WZO/Al/Cu/Al/WZO Multilayer Films

by Haijuan Mei, Liying Liu, Qingfeng Zhu, Huojuan Ye, Zhenting Zhao, Qiuguo Li, Jicheng Ding, Yi Yu, Libin Gan, Yuhang Li, Jie Liu and Weiping Gong

Nanomaterials 2025, 15(22), 1711; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15221711 - 12 Nov 2025

Viewed by 675

Abstract

By adjusting the Cu layer thickness, this study systematically investigated the evolution of the microstructure and optoelectronic properties of WZO/Al/Cu/Al/WZO multilayer films. The results indicated that all the films exhibited a ZnO phase with hexagonal wurtzite structure and a Cu phase with face-centered cubic structure, showing preferred orientations along the (002) and (111) planes, respectively. As the Cu layer thickness increased from 5 nm to 13 nm, its crystallinity was substantially improved, with the grain size gradually increasing from 4.7 nm to 12.4 nm. In contrast, the crystalline quality of ZnO first improved and then deteriorated, reaching an optimum at a Cu layer thickness of 7 nm. With increasing the Cu layer thickness, the visible light absorption loss was enhanced and then resulted in a gradual decrease in transmittance from 79.2% to 68.0%. Benefiting from the significant improvement in the crystallinity and continuity of the Cu layer, the resistivity sharply decreased from 1.7 × 10⁻³ Ω·cm to 7.1 × 10⁻⁵ Ω·cm and tended to saturate when the thickness exceeded 9 nm. As the Cu thickness increased to 11 nm, the figure of merit (F_OM) reached a maximum value of 4.4 × 10⁻³ Ω⁻¹, demonstrating the optimal optoelectronic performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials and Thin Films for Advanced Engineering Applications and Green Sustainable Solutions)

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16 pages, 5632 KB

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Microstructure and Properties of CoCrFeNiMo High-Entropy Alloy Coatings Prepared by Atmospheric Plasma Spraying

by Chunxia Jiang, Wenge Li, Ziyan Li, Lu Wang, Rongbin Li, Yanlong Xu, Tao Jiang and Yuantao Zhao

Nanomaterials 2025, 15(22), 1692; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15221692 - 8 Nov 2025

Viewed by 878

Abstract

This study employed atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) technology to successfully fabricate CoCrFeNiMo high-entropy alloy (HEA) coatings under varying spraying currents and systematically investigated the effects of the spraying current on the microstructure, mechanical properties, and tribological behavior of the coatings. Results showed that the material composition remained consistent across different current levels, primarily consisting of face-centered cubic (FCC) solid solution phases, FeCr₂O₄ spinel phases, and Cr-rich FCC1 phases. The FCC matrix was dispersed with spherical Cr oxide particles smaller than 30 nm in diameter, which significantly enhanced the strength of the coatings. As spraying current increased, both porosity and microhardness exhibited a non-monotonic trend—initial optimization followed by deterioration. At 500 A spraying current, the coating achieved optimal performance, with the lowest porosity (0.42%) and highest microhardness (569.8 HV). Correspondingly, this condition also yielded the best wear resistance, with stable friction coefficients and wear rates reaching 0.49 and 6.91 × 10⁻⁵ mm³/N m, respectively. Abrasion surface analysis revealed that excessively low or high currents triggered distinct wear mechanisms leading to reduced wear resistance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials and Thin Films for Advanced Engineering Applications and Green Sustainable Solutions)

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16 pages, 4430 KB

Open AccessArticle

Role of Ni Layer Thickness in Regulating Mechanical Properties and Deformation-Fracture Behavior of TiB₂-Ni Multilayer Films

by Xiaoben Qi, Xu Wang, Lina Tang, Rukeye Maimaititaji, Miaoling Shi, Sinan Ding, Jianyuan Ma, Huanqing Xu, Jinyi Fan, Hailong Shang and Ying Wang

Nanomaterials 2025, 15(22), 1687; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15221687 - 7 Nov 2025

Viewed by 679

Abstract

A series of TiB₂-Ni multilayer films with different Ni layer thicknesses was prepared by magnetron sputtering technology. The effect of Ni layer thickness on the microstructure and mechanical properties of the multilayer films was investigated, and the deformation and fracture mechanisms underlying the observed behavior were analyzed in detail. The results show that all multilayer films exhibit a well-defined layered architecture with sharp interfacial boundaries. Specifically, the Ni layers grow as columnar grains with an average diameter of approximately 10 nm, while the TiB₂ layers form a very fine acicular nanocolumnar structure. With the increase in Ni layer thickness, the hardness of the multilayer films shows a decreasing trend, gradually decreasing from 27.3 GPa at a 4 nm Ni thickness to 19.3 GPa at 50 nm. In contrast, the fracture toughness increases gradually from 1.54 MPa·m^1/2 to 2.73 MPa·m^1/2. This enhancement in toughness is primarily attributed to a transition in the deformation and fracture mechanism. With the increase in Ni layer thickness, the crack propagation mode in the multilayer films gradually changes from the integral propagation penetrating the film layers to the crack deflection propagation within the layers. This transformation is the result of the combined effect of the stress state of each layer and the crack energy dissipation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nanostructured Materials and Thin Films for Advanced Engineering Applications and Green Sustainable Solutions)

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