Thin Films and Coatings for Electrochemical Applications

A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy and Catalysis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 April 2025) | Viewed by 634

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
Interests: thin films; sputtering; pulsed laser deposition; electrochemistry; material characterisation; gas sensors; temperature sensors; batteries; supercapacitors; voltammetry; microfabrication; coatings; nanomaterials; electrochemical detection; self-assembled monolayers; thermochromic thin films; electrochromic thin films; self-cleaning coatings; photocatalysis; electrocatalysis; hard coatings
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Thin films have been employed in many applications to provide surfaces that possess specific optical, electronic, electrochemical, chemical, mechanical, and thermal properties. The aim of this Special Issue is to present the latest research and development of electrochemical processes and devices that integrate thin film technologies, such as physical vapour deposition (PVD), chemical vapour deposition (CVD), and chemical solution deposition. This Special Issue is expected to contain a combination of original research papers and review articles from leading scientists and engineers around the world.

In particular, the topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Overview of the fundamentals and new concepts in the design of thin films and structures for electrochemical processes and devices;
  • Recent advances in the applications of various thin film deposition technologies (e.g., evaporation, sputtering, ion beam-assisted deposition (IBD), chemical vapour deposition (CVD), low-pressure chemical vapour deposition (LPCVD), plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD), pulsed laser deposition (PLD), sol–gel, electrodeposition) for electrochemical processes and devices;
  • Applications of thin film technologies for electrochemical processes such as electroplating, electrolysis, plasma electrolytic oxidation, and electropolishing;
  • Thin film batteries, capacitors, and supercapacitors;
  • Thin film electrochemical sensors;
  • Photoelectrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide;
  • Applications of thin films for hydrogen energy technologies including photoelectrochemical hydrogen production, hydrogen storage, and fuel cells;
  • Thin film solid electrolyte;
  • Thin film coatings for improved electrical conductivity, optical reflection, corrosion resistance, hardness, abrasion resistance, and wear resistance for electrochemical processes and device components such as electrodes, current collectors, separators, and bus bars.

Dr. Dongfang Yang
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • thin film
  • evaporation
  • sputtering
  • ion beam-assisted deposition (IBD)
  • chemical vapour deposition (CVD)
  • plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD)
  • atomic layer deposition (ALD)
  • cathodic arc deposition
  • pulsed laser deposition (PLD)
  • sol–gel
  • electrodeposition
  • energy storage
  • thin film battery
  • hydrogen energy production
  • fuel cells
  • electroplating
  • electrolysis
  • plasma electrolytic oxidation
  • electropolishing
  • photoelectrochemical reduction

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

12 pages, 6048 KiB  
Article
Towards Thin Calcium Metal Anodes—An Essential Component for High-Energy-Density Calcium Batteries
by Christoph Kiesl, Reinhard Böck, Holger Kaßner, Joachim Häcker, Marco Kögel, Timo Sörgel and Şeniz Sörgel
Nanomaterials 2025, 15(6), 454; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano15060454 - 17 Mar 2025
Viewed by 348
Abstract
Metal anodes, such as those based on Ca, Mg, Na and Li, are considered to be one of the keys to the further development of high-energy-density rechargeable batteries. The thickness of these metal anodes directly affects the energy density of the battery. However, [...] Read more.
Metal anodes, such as those based on Ca, Mg, Na and Li, are considered to be one of the keys to the further development of high-energy-density rechargeable batteries. The thickness of these metal anodes directly affects the energy density of the battery. However, the fabrication of thin anodes poses technical challenges which often result in using excessively thick metal anodes in batteries. Here we present, for the first time, a study on the development of a thin Ca battery anode fabricated by electrodeposition. The battery anode with a thickness of approximately 10 µm corresponds to a charge density of 4.0 mAh cm−2. This study systematically investigates the electrodeposition behavior of Ca using a 1.0 M Ca(BH4)2 in THF as the electrolyte. A systematic evaluation of electrodeposition parameters—including substrate pretreatment, current density, hydrodynamics and charge density by area—is conducted. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and complementary image analysis provide detailed insights into these parameters. Electrodeposition offers a promising route to achieve a defined battery cell balance with minimal excess of metal at the anode. This will improve overall battery performance and efficiency. The findings contribute to the advancement of fundamental aspects of rechargeable batteries, particularly Ca-based batteries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Thin Films and Coatings for Electrochemical Applications)
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