Advances in Nanostructured Thin Films and Coatings, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Coatings (ISSN 2079-6412). This special issue belongs to the section "Surface Characterization, Deposition and Modification".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2025 | Viewed by 8012

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Science and Technology, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: micro/nano/2D materials mediated modern physics for the integrative innovation of information technology; biomedicine and new energy, including surface and interface controlled fabrication of nano/microstructure materials for biomedicine; new energy and industrial catalysis and information technology via novel programmed microfluidic process; template assisted nano-imprinting and varieties of inorganic–organic interface cladding processes at nano/atomic scale
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Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Sensors Technology, Beijing Information Science & Technology University, Beijing 100192, China
Interests: smart materials; surface and interface science; composites; self-assembly; sensors; pulsed electric field technique; electromagnetic functional material
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Advanced thin films and coatings represent a kind of solid interface with unique electronic, electric, magnetic, optical, thermal and mechanical properties with frictional, acoustic, catalytic and permeable properties with advanced applications in specific fields. They have become increasingly important in modern information technology, new energy, biotechnology and other industrial fields, being crucial in the theory and development of surface and interface science and in fabrication technology from the microscale to nanoscale and even atomic scale (e.g., ALD).

In particular, with advances in nanoscience and nanotechnology, different varieties of nanostructured thin films and coatings are being developed with unique electronic, electric, magnetic, optical, catalytic, thermal and mechanical properties. These are instrumental in achieving progress in the areas of information technology, biomedical engineering and new energy. Therefore, this is a fitting time to present a summary of the progress made in the field of nanostructured thin films and coatings. We are pleased to invite you and your colleagues to contribute to this Special Issue, which will be published by the well-established SCI-indexed journal Coatings. We welcome submissions either in the form of reviews on a particular topic (e.g., nanostructured thin films for solar cells) or recent original research results. We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Yujun Song
Dr. Qingwei Liao
Guest Editors

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. 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.

Keywords

  • micro-nanostructure
  • thin films
  • coatings
  • surface and interface
  • inorganic–organic composites

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 6375 KiB  
Article
Automated Crack Detection in 2D Hexagonal Boron Nitride Coatings Using Machine Learning
by Md Hasan-Ur Rahman, Bichar Dip Shrestha Gurung, Bharat K. Jasthi, Etienne Z. Gnimpieba and Venkataramana Gadhamshetty
Coatings 2024, 14(6), 726; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14060726 - 6 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1611
Abstract
Characterizing defects in 2D materials, such as cracks in chemical vapor deposited (CVD)-grown hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), is essential for evaluating material quality and reliability. Traditional characterization methods are often time-consuming and subjective and can be hindered by the limited optical contrast of [...] Read more.
Characterizing defects in 2D materials, such as cracks in chemical vapor deposited (CVD)-grown hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), is essential for evaluating material quality and reliability. Traditional characterization methods are often time-consuming and subjective and can be hindered by the limited optical contrast of hBN. To address this, we utilized a YOLOv8n deep learning model for automated crack detection in transferred CVD-grown hBN films, using MATLAB’s Image Labeler and Supervisely for meticulous annotation and training. The model demonstrates promising crack-detection capabilities, accurately identifying cracks of varying sizes and complexities, with loss curve analysis revealing progressive learning. However, a trade-off between precision and recall highlights the need for further refinement, particularly in distinguishing fine cracks from multilayer hBN regions. This study demonstrates the potential of ML-based approaches to streamline 2D material characterization and accelerate their integration into advanced devices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Nanostructured Thin Films and Coatings, 2nd Edition)
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17 pages, 3878 KiB  
Article
Synthesis and Characterization of Silica-Titanium Oxide Nano-Coating on NiTi Alloy
by Karolina Dudek, Mateusz Dulski, Jacek Podwórny, Magdalena Kujawa, Anna Gerle and Patrycja Rawicka
Coatings 2024, 14(4), 391; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14040391 - 27 Mar 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1343
Abstract
To functionalize the surface of the NiTi alloy, hybrid layers comprising nanometric silica and titanium oxides were synthesized. The TiO2–SiO2 nanosystem was chemically prepared and utilized for electrophoretic deposition (EPD) to create multifunctional layers on the alloy surface. The impact [...] Read more.
To functionalize the surface of the NiTi alloy, hybrid layers comprising nanometric silica and titanium oxides were synthesized. The TiO2–SiO2 nanosystem was chemically prepared and utilized for electrophoretic deposition (EPD) to create multifunctional layers on the alloy surface. The impact of pH on Zeta potential and ceramic particle size was explored to ensure a stable colloidal suspension for EPD, with optimal parameters established at a pH of approximately 6. A uniform layer was formed by applying a voltage of 40 V for 3 min, appearing as a thin film interspersed with regularly spaced larger agglomerates. The thin film primarily consisted of a minor fraction of defective rutile nanoparticles, accompanied by silica and carbon agglomerates from the nanosystem synthesis process. Heat treatment at 800 °C for 2 h induced significant structural changes, developing a novel-generation material with a different structure. An interlayer with strong Si–O–Ti connections was formed. Moreover, the mechanism of layer formation was extensively discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Nanostructured Thin Films and Coatings, 2nd Edition)
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13 pages, 4872 KiB  
Article
Graphene Oxide as a Factor Modifying the Properties of Wood
by Izabela Betlej, Bogusław Andres, Sławomir Borysiak, Sławomir Jaworski, Marta Kutwin, Krzysztof Krajewski and Piotr Boruszewski
Coatings 2024, 14(3), 321; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14030321 - 8 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1221
Abstract
This work carried out research to determine the possibilities of using graphene oxide to provide wood with new functional features. With the saturation parameters used and working liquid with a concentration of 0.004% graphene oxide, the retention of the nanomaterial in wood was [...] Read more.
This work carried out research to determine the possibilities of using graphene oxide to provide wood with new functional features. With the saturation parameters used and working liquid with a concentration of 0.004% graphene oxide, the retention of the nanomaterial in wood was 0.25 kg/m3. The presence of graphene oxide increased the crystallinity of the wood to 64% (compared with 57% for unmodified wood). The TG/DTG spectra of wood impregnated with graphene oxide and the control wood indicated that the initial weight loss of the samples observed at a temperature of 100 °C was similar and amounted to less than 4%. A second mass loss was observed in a temperature range of 270 to 380 °C. The mass loss in this temperature range reached 70% and was similar in the test and control samples. Wood modified with graphene oxide showed increased thermal stability in a temperature range of 360 to 660 °C compared with native wood. Given the results obtained, there were no statistically significant differences in the water absorption of modified or control wood. The presence of low concentrations of graphene oxide in the culture medium did not inhibit the growth of the fungus Trichoderma viride; however, a decrease in the growth activity of mycelial hyphae was observed with an increasing concentration of nanomaterial in the medium. It has been reported that graphene oxide, as a stress factor, initiates changes at the cellular level, characterized by the formation of structures called chlamydospores by the body. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Nanostructured Thin Films and Coatings, 2nd Edition)
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11 pages, 5123 KiB  
Article
MWCNT–Polyimide Fiber-Reinforced Composite for High-Temperature Tribological Applications
by Yunfeng Yan, Beibei Zhang, Jianzhang Wang, Changhong Cao and Fengyuan Yan
Coatings 2024, 14(2), 181; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14020181 - 31 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1226
Abstract
A hybrid type of polyimide fibers (PIF) grafted with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was developed for high-temperature tribological applications. Compared to pure PI samples, the mechanical properties (i.e., Young’s modulus and hardness) of the PIF-based composite were enhanced following a rule of mixture [...] Read more.
A hybrid type of polyimide fibers (PIF) grafted with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was developed for high-temperature tribological applications. Compared to pure PI samples, the mechanical properties (i.e., Young’s modulus and hardness) of the PIF-based composite were enhanced following a rule of mixture prediction; the onset decomposition temperature of the MWCNT-PIF-based composite was increased by 14.5 °C and the wear rate at 300 °C decreased by 34.5%. To understand the grafting mechanism, Dmol3 simulation was performed, which revealed that the benzene ring and the hydroxyl group of diene-acceptor (DA) donated electrons to the oxygen atom in the nitrogen-containing five-membered ring of PIF and the straight chain structures had higher reactivity than a branched chain structure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Nanostructured Thin Films and Coatings, 2nd Edition)
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Review

Jump to: Research

12 pages, 3569 KiB  
Review
PbS Colloidal Quantum Dots: Ligand Exchange in Solution
by Chuanxi Zhang, Dong Han and Xiaoyu Zhang
Coatings 2024, 14(6), 761; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings14060761 - 16 Jun 2024
Viewed by 2060
Abstract
PbS colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) have the advantages of adjustable band gap, large exciton Bohr radius, controllable size, easy synthesis, and potential multi-exciton effect, making them attractive for photodetectors and solar cells. However, the long ligand chain wrapped on PbS CQDs limits carrier [...] Read more.
PbS colloidal quantum dots (CQDs) have the advantages of adjustable band gap, large exciton Bohr radius, controllable size, easy synthesis, and potential multi-exciton effect, making them attractive for photodetectors and solar cells. However, the long ligand chain wrapped on PbS CQDs limits carrier transport, and defect states of as-synthesized CQDs increase non-radiative recombination, negatively affecting photovoltaic performance. Surface properties determine the characteristics of CQDs, so ligand exchange processes are crucial. Because solution phase ligand exchange reduces labor and time requirements, it is more advantageous than solid phase ligand exchange. This review discusses the solution phase ligand exchange process of PbS CQDs, emphasizing the impact of surface ligands on conformation and conductivity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Nanostructured Thin Films and Coatings, 2nd Edition)
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