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Atomic Layer Deposition: From Thin Films to Nanostructured Materials

A special issue of Materials (ISSN 1996-1944). This special issue belongs to the section "Thin Films and Interfaces".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 February 2024) | Viewed by 2490

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
European Institute of Membranes (IEM), University of Montpellier, 34090 Montpellier, France
Interests: atomic layer deposition; photocatalysis; electrospinning; nanomaterials; sensors; thin films
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Atomic layer deposition (ALD) is an ultrathin film deposition method. This technique allows the deposition of various materials (oxides, nitrides, metals, etc.) with a thickness control at the nanometric scale, as well as excellent uniformity and conformality.

The aim of this Special Issue is to assemble high-quality contributions on the deposition of thin films as well as the synthesis and modification of nanostructures using ALD. It will deal with the design of new thin films and nanostructures by tuning their morphology, geometry, crystallinity, and interfaces. The relation between these parameters and the physical–chemical properties will also be investigated. New applications in different fields, such as health, the environment, renewable energy, microelectronics, etc., will be also explored.

Relevant contributions related to prospective materials’ design, original materials’ properties, and innovative characterization techniques will also be considered.

Dr. Mikhael Bechelany
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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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

  • thin film
  • nanomaterial
  • interface
  • nanostructured material
  • porous materials
  • energy
  • health
  • environment
  • membrane

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 4624 KiB  
Article
Emerging Non-Noble-Metal Atomic Layer Deposited Copper as Seeds for Electroless Copper Deposition
by Zihong Gao, Chengli Zhang, Qiang Wang, Guanglong Xu, Guoyou Gan and Hongliang Zhang
Materials 2024, 17(7), 1620; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma17071620 - 02 Apr 2024
Viewed by 432
Abstract
Copper metal catalyst seeds have recently triggered much research interest for the development of low-cost and high-performance metallic catalysts with industrial applications. Herein, we present metallic Cu catalyst seeds deposited by an atomic layer deposition method on polymer substrates. The atomic layer deposited [...] Read more.
Copper metal catalyst seeds have recently triggered much research interest for the development of low-cost and high-performance metallic catalysts with industrial applications. Herein, we present metallic Cu catalyst seeds deposited by an atomic layer deposition method on polymer substrates. The atomic layer deposited Cu (ALD-Cu) can ideally substitute noble metals Ag, Au, and Pd to catalyze Cu electroless deposition. The optimized deposition temperature and growth cycles of an ALD-Cu catalyzed seed layer have been obtained to achieve a flexible printed circuit (FPC) with a high performance electroless plating deposited Cu (ELD-Cu) film. The ELD-Cu films on the ALD-Cu catalyst seeds grown display a uniform and dense deposition with a low resistivity of 1.74 μΩ·cm, even in the through via and trench of substates. Furthermore, the ALD-Cu-catalyzed ELD-Cu circuits and LED devices fabricated on treated PI also demonstrate excellent conductive and mechanical features. The remarkable conductive and mechanical characteristics of the ALD-Cu seed catalyzed ELD-Cu process demonstrate its tremendous potential in high-density integrated FPC applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Atomic Layer Deposition: From Thin Films to Nanostructured Materials)
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14 pages, 2579 KiB  
Article
Optical and Electrochemical Properties of a Nanostructured ZnO Thin Layer Deposited on a Nanoporous Alumina Structure via Atomic Layer Deposition
by Ana L. Cuevas, Antonia Dominguez, Javier Zamudio-García, Victor Vega, Ana Silvia González, David Marrero-López, Victor M. Prida and Juana Benavente
Materials 2024, 17(6), 1412; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma17061412 - 20 Mar 2024
Viewed by 530
Abstract
This study explores the optical and electrochemical properties of a ZnO coating layer deposited on a nanoporous alumina structure (NPAS) for potential multifunctional applications. The NPAS, synthesized through an electrochemical anodization process, displays well-defined nanochannels with a high aspect ratio (~3000). The ZnO [...] Read more.
This study explores the optical and electrochemical properties of a ZnO coating layer deposited on a nanoporous alumina structure (NPAS) for potential multifunctional applications. The NPAS, synthesized through an electrochemical anodization process, displays well-defined nanochannels with a high aspect ratio (~3000). The ZnO coating, achieved via atomic layer deposition, enables the tuning of the pore diameter and porosity of the NPAS, thereby influencing both the optical and electrochemical interfacial properties. A comprehensive characterization using photoluminescence, spectroscopy ellipsometry and impedance spectroscopy (with the sample in contact with NaCl solutions) provides insights into optical and electrochemical parameters, including the refractive index, absorption coefficient, and electrolyte–ZnO/NPAS interface processes. This research demonstrates potential for tailoring the optical and interfacial properties of nanoporous structures by selecting appropriate coating materials, thus opening avenues for their utilization in various technological applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Atomic Layer Deposition: From Thin Films to Nanostructured Materials)
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13 pages, 3633 KiB  
Article
A Novel Approach to Obtaining Metal Oxide HAR Nanostructures by Electrospinning and ALD
by Blagoy S. Blagoev, Borislava Georgieva, Kirilka Starbova, Nikolay Starbov, Ivalina Avramova, Krastyo Buchkov, Peter Tzvetkov, Rumen Stoykov, Penka Terziyska, Damyan Delibaltov, Vladimir Mehandzhiev and Albena Paskaleva
Materials 2023, 16(23), 7489; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/ma16237489 - 03 Dec 2023
Viewed by 904
Abstract
In this work, a novel approach is suggested to grow bilayer fibers by combining electrospinning and atomic layer deposition (ALD). Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers are obtained by electrospinning and subsequently covered with thin Al2O3 deposited at a low temperature by [...] Read more.
In this work, a novel approach is suggested to grow bilayer fibers by combining electrospinning and atomic layer deposition (ALD). Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibers are obtained by electrospinning and subsequently covered with thin Al2O3 deposited at a low temperature by ALD. To burn the PVA core, the fibrous structures are subjected to high-temperature annealing. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis of the PVA mat is performed to establish the proper annealing regime for burning off the PVA core and obtaining hollow fibers. The hollow fibers thus formed are covered with a ZnO layer deposited by ALD at a higher temperature within the ALD window of ZnO. This procedure allows us to prepare ZnO films with better crystallinity and stoichiometry. Different characterization methods—SEM, ellipsometry, XRD, and XPS—are performed at each step to investigate the processes in detail. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Atomic Layer Deposition: From Thin Films to Nanostructured Materials)
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