This volume comprises the expert contributions from the invited speakers at the 17th International Conference on Thin Films (ICTF 2017), held at CSIR-NPL, New Delhi, India. Thin film research has become increasingly important over the last few decades owing to the applications in latest technologies and devices. The book focuses on current advances in thin film deposition processes and characterization including thin film measurements. The chapters cover different types of thin films like metal, dielectric, organic and inorganic, and their diverse applications across transistors, resistors, capacitors, memory elements for computers, optical filters and mirrors, sensors, solar cells, LED's, transparent conducting coatings for liquid crystal display, printed circuit board, and automobile headlamp covers. This book can be a useful reference for students, researchers as well as industry professionals by providing an up-to-date knowledge on thin films and coatings.

This book highlights the latest advances in chemical and physical methods for thin-film deposition and surface engineering, including ion- and plasma-assisted processes, focusing on explaining the synthesis/processing–structure–properties relationship for a variety of thin-film systems. It covers topics such as advances in thin-film synthesis; new thin-film materials: diamond-like films, granular alloys, high-entropy alloys, oxynitrides, and intermetallic compounds; ultra-hard, wear- and oxidation-resistant and multifunctional coatings; superconducting, magnetic, semiconducting, and dielectric films; electrochemical and electroless depositions; thin-film characterization and instrumentation; and industrial applications.

Advances In Smart Coatings And Thin Films For Future Industrial and Biomedical Engineering Applications discusses in detail, the recent trends in designing, fabricating and manufacturing of smart coatings and thin films for future high-tech. industrial applications related to transportation, aerospace and biomedical engineering. Chapters cover fundamental aspects and diverse approaches used to fabricate smart self-healing anti-corrosion coatings, shape-memory coatings, polymeric and nano-bio-ceramic cotings, bio-inspired and stimuli-responsive coatings for smart surfaces with antibacterial activkity and controlled wettability, and electrically conductive coatings and their emerging applications. With the emphasis on advanced methodologies and recent emerging applications of smart multifunctional coatings and thin films, this book is essential reading for materials scientists and rsearchers working in chemical sciences, advanced materials, sensors, pharmaceutical and biomedical engineering. Discusses the most recent advances and innovations in smart multifunctional coatings and thin films in the transportation, aerospace and biomedical engineering industries Highlights the synthesis methods, processing, testing and characterization of smart coatings and thin films Reviews the current prospects and future trends within the industry

Photovoltaic technology has now developed to the extent that it is close to fulfilling the vision of a "solar-energy world," as devices based on this technology are becoming efficient, low-cost and durable. This book provides a comprehensive treatment of thin-film silicon, a prevalent PV material, in terms of its semiconductor nature, startin

Recent years have witnessed the flourishing of numerous novel strategies based on the magnetron sputtering technique aimed at the advanced engineering of thin films, such as HiPIMS, combined vacuum processes, the implementation of complex precursor gases or the inclusion of particle guns in the reactor, among others. At the forefront of these approaches, investigations focused on nanostructured coatings appear today as one of the priorities in many scientific and technological communities: The science behind them appears in most of the cases as a "terra incognita", fascinating both the fundamentalist, who imagines new concepts, and the experimenter, who is able to create and study new films with as of yet unprecedented performances. These scientific and technological challenges, along with the existence of numerous scientific issues that have yet to be clarified in classical magnetron sputtering depositions (e.g., process control and stability, nanostructuration mechanisms, connection between film morphology and properties or upscaling procedures from the laboratory to industrial scales) have motivated us to edit a specialized volume containing the state-of-the art that put together these innovative fundamental and applied research topics. These include, but are not limited to: • Nanostructure-related properties; • Atomistic processes during film growth; • Process control, process stability, and in situ diagnostics; • Fundamentals and applications of HiPIMS; • Thin film nanostructuration phenomena; • Tribological, anticorrosion, and mechanical properties; • Combined procedures based on the magnetron sputtering technique; • Industrial applications; • Devices.

Prepared as a textbook complete with problems after each chapter, specifically intended for classroom use in universities.

Thin-film coating technology has revolutionized various industries by offering functional solutions that enhance efficiency, flexibility, and performance in electronic devices, optics, solar cells, hard coatings, sensors, and even food preservation. This cutting-edge technology has significantly contributed to advancements in nanotechnology, materials science, and renewable energy. This Special Issue, comprising thirteen high-quality contributions, showcases a portion of the ongoing dynamism and diversity within thin-film research. It covers several key areas related to recent advancements in thin-film development, including deposition and characterization techniques, mechanical and electrical properties, sensing and solar cell technologies, food preservation and advanced approaches for assessing the mechanical behavior of thin films. The presented research reflects not only the current state-of-the-art but also offers new perspectives for future advancements across various industries and technologies.