Current Research in Pulsed Laser Deposition

• Other Authors: Duta, Liviu (Editor), Popescu, Andrei C. (Editor)
• Format: Electronic Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland MDPI - Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute 2021
• Subjects: Technology: general issues; thin films; matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation; shellac; enteric coatings; PLD; ITO; nanoimprint lithography; coatings; nanostructure; iron oxide; pulsed laser deposition; aluminum nitride; nanoindentation testing; TEM imaging; FTIR spectroscopy; ellipsometry; complex refractive index; composite coatings; MAPLE; Lactoferrin; macrophage interactions; animal-origin calcium phosphate coatings; natural hydroxyapatite; doping; high adherence; pulsed laser deposition technique; biomimetic applications; target preparation; room temperature ferromagnetism; dilute magnetic semiconductor; Indium oxide; (InFe)2O3; PLD films; energy storage; thin-film electrodes; thin-film solid electrolyte; lithium microbatteries; calcium phosphate-based coatings; synthetic and natural hydroxyapatite; in vivo testing; biomedical applications; n/a
• Online Access: DOAB: download the publication; DOAB: description of the publication

Despite its limitation in terms of surface covered area, the PLD technique still gathers interest among researchers by offering endless possibilities for tuning thin film composition and enhancing their properties of interest due to: (i) the easiness of a stoichiometric transfer even for very complex target materials, (ii) high adherence of the deposited structures to the substrate, (iii) controlled degree of phase, crystallinity, and thickness of deposited coatings, (iv) versatility of the experimental set-up which allows for simultaneous ablation of multiple targets resulting in combinatorial maps or consecutive ablation of multiple targets producing multi-layered structures, and (v) adjustment of the number of laser pulses, resulting in either a spread of nanoparticles, islands of materials or a complete covering of a surface. Moreover, a variation of PLD, known as Matrix Assisted Pulsed Laser Evaporation, allows for deposition of organic materials, ranging from polymers to proteins and even living cells, otherwise difficult to transfer unaltered in the form of thin films by other techniques. Furthermore, the use of laser light as transfer agent ensures purity of films and pulse-to-pulse deposition allows for an unprecedented control of film thickness at the nm level. This Special Issue is a collection of state-of-the art research papers and reviews in which the topics of interest are devoted to thin film synthesis by PLD and MAPLE, for numerous research and industry field applications, such as bio-active coatings for medical implants and hard, protective coatings for cutting and drilling tools withstanding high friction and elevated temperatures, sensors, solar cells, lithography, magnetic devices, energy-storage and conversion devices, controlled drug delivery and in situ microstructuring for boosting of surface properties.