The Composition and Photoelectrochemical Performance of Thin Films

Dear Colleagues,

Materials, a peer-reviewed open access journal of materials science and engineering, plans to publish a Special Issue titled “The Composition and Photoelectrochemical Performance of Thin Films.” The main aim of this Special Issue is to serve scientists and engineers active in the fields of thin-film synthesis and its diagnostics, surface science, nanostructures (chemical composition, crystal phase) and finally their characterization (including composition and photoelectrochemical performance) and applications.

The scope of the Special Issue includes results of materials science, specific surface analytical techniques, theoretical and computational methods, the processing of films and nanostructures and applied physics, with special emphasis on the following topics:

• Deposition techniques, growth and characterization of thin films
• Thin film, surfaces and interfaces
• Photoactive thin films and energy harvesting
• Langmuir-Blodgett and Related Films
• Nanostructured thin films and surfaces, including manipulation of matter at atomic/molecular scale and assembly phenomena (2D assembly)
• Condensed Matter Film Behaviour
• Mechanics and nanomechanics of thin films
• Theoretical calculations/modelling of thin films
• Electronics, Optics, and Opto-electronics of thin films
• Surface modification by laser radiation, ion, electron beams and plasma interactions
• Thin Film Devices, Sensors, and Actuators
• Surface science of catalysis, electrocatalysis and photocatalysis, chemistry at electrified interfaces
• Surface nano-engineering and functionalization,
• Thin films application for energy conversion and storage

The deposition processes may include: pulsed laser deposition, physical and chemical vapour deposition, thermal and plasma spraying, thermo-chemical treatment, wet chemical and electrochemical processes such as plating, sol-gel coating, anodization, plasma electrolytic oxidation, etc., but excluding painting. Tribology and bio surfaces are not in the issue’s scope. Special attention should be paid to the material response during its exposure to the whole solar spectrum or the particular wavelengths.

Work published in Materials reaches a wide range of specialists, in fields ranging from chemistry and physics to biology, materials science and engineering. The Special Issue will provide an excellent forum for cross-fertilization of ideas and broad dissemination of presented results. We expect contributions to range from original scientific articles concerned with applied research or direct applications of thin films, as well as reviews of current technology in specific areas (in the latter case please send your proposal beforehand).

Papers should comply with the general journal requirements as described at https://www.mdpi.com/journal/materials/instructions

It is my pleasure to invite you to submit a manuscript for this Special Issue of Materials. Fundamental, interdisciplinary, theoretical, experimental and applied work will be considered. You are encouraged to write articles that are of relevance and interest to both established surface scientists and newcomers to the field.

Prof. Dr. Adam Cenia
Dr. Katarzyna Siuzdak
Dr. Mirosław Sawczak
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 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. 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.