Section Collection Information
Dear Colleagues,
Thin films and coatings technology is an advanced surface treatment technology. A thin film layer with certain hardness is formed on the surface of the workpiece by physical or chemical methods, so as to improve the surface mechanical, electrical, and/or chemical properties. In recent years, the thin film processing and deposition technology has made great progress. In order to show the latest progress and development trend in this field, a Special Issue (2D materials and their heterostructures) was proposed to provide a comprehensive description of thin surface coatings and their performance, and how they can be prepared effectively.
Original research articles and review articles cover the current progress on thin films processing and deposition techniques. Topics covered include details of deposition techniques, properties of thin hard and/or soft coatings. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:
1. Nanostructure/nanocomposite/multilayer/gradient thin films and coatings
2. Hard yet tough nitride/carbide thin films and coatings; Hard and superhard nitride/carbide thin films and coatings; High entropy alloy (HEA) related thin films and coatings; High entropy nitride/carbide thin films coatings; Diamond like carbon related coatings
3. Physical vapor deposition techniques: High power impulse magnetron sputtering (HiPIMS); Filtered cathodic vacuum arc (FCVA); Pulse laser deposition (PLD)
4. Surface and interface treatment for energy materials
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Section Editors
Prof. Dr. Deen Sun
Dr. Mauro Zarrelli
Dr. Javed Rehman
Dr. Mohamed Faouzi Ncib
Dr. Md Shalauddin
Dr. Christos N. Pavlou