Design and Development of Nanostructured Thin Films

Abstract

Nanostructured thin films have attracted a great deal of interest over the last few decades due to their unique, size-dependent, physicochemical properties. Consequently, they have been exploited as promising materials for a wide range of applications, including smart coating, effective drug delivery systems, electrocatalysis and highly-sensitive sensors. Depending on both the applications and the deposition technique, nanostructured films have been designed and developed by tuning their atomic-molecular 2D- and/or 3D-aggregation, thickness, crystallinity and porosity, as well as their optical, mechanical, catalytic and conductive properties. On the other hand, despite the wide benefits of nanostructures, there are open questions about how nanomaterial production and their daily use might affect the environment and health. Recently, many efforts have been made, not only to prevent nanotechnologies and nanomaterials from contributing to environmental pollution, but also to design nanomaterials aimed at protecting, supporting, and controlling the environment by employing various strategies.

This Special Issue will attempt to cover the recent advances in designing nanostructured films focusing on environmental issues, such as the fabrication processes (e.g., low-power and low-cost technologies, the use of environmentally-friendly solvents), the materials employed (e.g., waste-recycled, bio-based, biodegradable, and natural materials), the functions of thin films (e.g., controlled release of chemicals, mimicking of natural processes, energy conversion and storage), and use in environmental sensors (e.g., optically- or electrically-sensitive to pollutants).