Recent Advances in Thin Films and Coatings of Surface Engineered Nanomaterials for Energy and Environmental Applications

Dear Colleagues,

The burgeoning growth of the global economy and the technological industrial revolution now demand advanced solutions regarding energy and environmental sustainability that enhance our standards of living and promote an eco-friendly society. The fields of nanotechnology and materials science have converged to create advanced hybrid nanomaterial-based coatings and thin films with unprecedented properties and functionalities for novel device applications. The latest advancements in uniform thin film coatings and surface deposition techniques have garnered attention concerning the development, design and fabrication of novel nanomaterial-based devices, particularly in the fields of electronics, energy, environmental protection, biomedicine, and space. Surface science, engineering and novel coating technologies for nanomaterials and their hybrid heterostructures have led to the possibility of achieving exceptional optoelectrical, physical, mechanical, chemical and biomedical properties. In addition, the effective integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) and density functional theory (DFT) prediction into nanotechnology has significantly enhanced the design and optimization of nanomaterial coatings and thin films, enabling precise predictions of material properties and behaviours. Such advanced computational approaches drive innovation, efficiency, and sustainability, accelerating the development of high-performance devices in these critical fields. These innovations are also propelling advancements regarding the provision of deep and new scientific conceptual knowledge, delivering in-depth systematic investigations and technical solutions that address major global challenges, especially in both the energy and environmental sectors. Such innovative investigations are highly encouraged due to the extensive applicative potential of devices developed using nanomaterials. These include smart food packaging, energy production and storage devices, flexible, wireless and cost-effective sensors for detecting flammable and hazardous gases, advanced diagnostic techniques for IoT-based biomedical devices, water pollutant removers, long-lasting prosthetics, smart drug delivery systems more efficient thermal insulation materials for buildings, and many others.

This Special Issue aims to capture the latest advancements and provide a comprehensive overview of how the latest progress in nanomaterial coatings and their surface engineering is revolutionizing electronics, devices for environmental protection, energy production and storage applications for sustainability. By showcasing innovative research and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, we aim to accelerate the development of sustainable technologies that address the urgent challenges facing our world today. We invite original research articles and reviews that highlight cutting-edge advancements and future directions in this dynamic field.

The scope of this Special Issue includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:

1. III-V semiconductors and hybrid heterostructure-based thin film coatings for device applications;
2. 2D materials, polymers, plasmonic nanoparticles, metal oxides and hybrid heterostructures, surface engineering, and interfacial properties of nanomaterials;
3. Novel nanomaterials and hybrid heterostructure coatings for energy storage (batteries/supercapacitors/fuel cells) and conversion (PEC water splitting), as well as energy-harvesting devices;
4. Functional coatings for flexible, wearable and smart sensor devices;
5. Advanced coating technologies for optoelectronics (Solar Cells/Photovoltaics/Photodetectors);
6. Synthesis and fabrication of novel nanomaterial-based thin films and coatings for advanced devices;
7. Advanced and functional nanostructure coatings for energy and environmental sustainability applications;
8. Theoretical and experimental integration of with DFT/AI/ML for efficient and optimized functional nanomaterials.

Dr. Kedhareswara Sairam Pasupuleti
Guest Editor

Dr. Pradyumna Prakash Waifalkar
Dr. Keval Jayantilal Gadani
Guest Editor Assistants

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-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Coatings is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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.