Polymer Thin Films: From Fundamentals to Applications (Second Edition)

Dear Colleagues,

The research on polymer thin films is an ongoing process, where the basic knowledge about the preparation of coating formulations and/or complex interactions between the substrate and the coating are the key factors for producing a quality and durable product.

This Special Issue of the journal Coatings, “Polymer Thin Films: From Fundamentals to Applications (Second Edition)”, aims to assess the recent basic and advanced theoretical and experimental progress made in polymer thin coating films used in various applications.

The use of polymer thin films is nowadays implemented in almost every aspect of modern life due to their cost-efficiency, lightness, flexibility, and unique physical and chemical properties. The reason for focusing this research on polymer thin films is to understand the thermodynamic and kinetic mechanisms, such as interfacial interactions, flow behaviour, film formation, relationships between deposition process parameters and the film structure, and other advanced functional properties.

Polymer thin films are used as coatings that modify and/or increase the functionality of bulk surfaces or substrates. Nowadays, many techniques exist for the deposition of thin polymer films, including physical, chemical, laser and wet deposition, among others. New deposition processes are being developed to achieve new compositions and physical properties. The research on polymer thin films is focused on many industrial applications, such as energy technologies, optics, sensors, microelectronics, medicine, biotechnology, etc.

The topics of interest for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to:

• Synthesis of novel polymer thin films;
• Correlations and predictions of rheological and mechanical properties of polymer thin films;
• Novel polymer thin films;
• Novel materials with functional properties, e.g., conductive, optical, tribological, barrier, protective, and antifouling coatings, among others;
• Relationships between deposition process parameters and polymer thin film microstructures;
• Preparation of sustainable polymer thin films;
• New trends in polymer thin films and coatings.

Dr. Mohor Mihelčič
Guest Editor

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.

• multifunctional thin film coating
• novel materials for polymer thin films
• characterization
• industrial applications
• life cycle assessment of polymer thin films