The Session involves topics including the following:

• Modeling and diagnostic methods of plasma discharges;
• Fundamental understanding of plasma behavior;
• Plasma-enhanced coatings and structures;
• Plasma–surface interactions;
• Novel plasma-based thin film deposition and material synthesis technology;
• Implementation of plasma processing for research and industrial applications.

Laser-assisted techniques have been proven to be helpful in producing and modifying coatings, films, surfaces, and interfaces.

The Session involved topics include but are not limited to:

• Laser-assisted processes at nano-, micro-, and macro-scales;
• Short and ultrashort pulsed laser treatments of polymers, ceramics, metals, and composites for general surface applications;
• Laser-assisted processes for surface modification in biomaterials and medical devices (e.g., laser surface functionalization, degradability modification, bioactive coatings, biocompatibility enhancement, cell alignment, antibacterial functionalization, and the laser surface modification of hard and soft tissues);
• Fabrication of metallic micro-/nano-composite materials for environmental applications;
• Laser-assisted or chemical synthesis of catalytic nanoparticles, the surface science of nanomaterials, and surface effects at nanoscale and applications;
• Laser-assisted production of thin films (e.g., pulsed laser deposition and laser thin-film deposition);
• Laser-assisted production of thick films (e.g., laser cladding and laser surface alloying);
• Surface engineering by laser technology (e.g., laser ablation, laser annealing, laser blasting, laser etching, laser electroplating, laser hardening, laser polishing, and laser shock peening);
• Laser surface structuring and related techniques (e.g., laser texturing, hierarchical structuring, laser-induced periodic surface structuring, interference patterning, and laser micromachining);
• Mathematical modeling, theoretical analysis, thermomechanical models, and simulation in laser surface treatments.

This Session is dedicated to advanced thin-film structures and devices, with special emphasis placed on their preparation, characterization, and application in the energy field.

Potential topics include the following:

• Novel oxide and non-oxide materials in thin-film form;
• Preparation using chemical and physical methods;
• Micro- and nanostructuring;
• Surface and interface engineering;
• Advanced characterization techniques;
• Structure–composition–property relationships;
• Application in electrochemical energy storage devices (e.g., as a protective surface coating on anode/cathode materials for bulk-type batteries or an active component in thin-film batteries), catalysis, solar cells, sensors, data storage, etc.

This session is dedicated to experimental or theoretical research on the tribological behavior of coatings with special relevance to the applications of coatings in transport vehicles, energy harvesting devices, manufacturing systems, oil/gas pipelines, and biomedical fields. The scope of this section, titled “Tribology of Coatings”, covers innovative metallic, inorganic, organic and composite coatings specially designed for systems involving contact elements. Studies of the adhesion, friction, wear, corrosion, and failure of such coatings at any scale are welcome in this section. All manuscripts to be considered for publication in this section will undergo a rigorous peer-review process, and decisions will be based on the recommendations of independent reviewers.

• Coating deposition processes
• Surface treatments
• Microstructural characterization and determination of mechanical properties
• Performance studies of modified or treated surfaces
• Development of novel characterization devices that are specifically designed to study the structural and other properties of modified surfaces

As the precious legacy of human beings with high historical, artistic, and scientific values, cultural heritage carries important information about human historical activities, reflecting the development and progress of world civilization. Therefore, studies of cultural heritage preservation play a key role in understanding human history, inheriting splendid nations’ cultures, and safeguarding cultural diversity and creativity around the world.

The Session involved topics including, but not limited to, the following:

• Theoretical and experimental research, knowledge, and new ideas in CH surface and interface analysis to help us understand protective and preventive coating mechanisms.
• Recent developments in multi-functional organic, inorganic, and hybrid coatings.
• Experiments on coating performance with exposure to high temperatures, high stress, and other extreme environmental conditions.
• Understanding the degradation mechanisms of coatings through different spectroscopic techniques combined with mechanical tests.
• The latest advancements in test methods considering the interplay between mechanical and chemical interactions and the ability to predict performance and/or reliability.
• Innovative non-invasive techniques to investigate surface and interface characteristics.
• Computer modeling or simulations to predict coating properties, performance, durability, and reliability in service environments.

Surface modification is important in many medical applications because properties such as biocompatibility, bio-integration, corrosion resistance, antimicrobial, anti-encrustation, and antibiofilm activity are only some of the most important properties correlated with the nature and characteristics of coatings.

The Session involved topics includeing the following:

• Composite films and coatings;
• Antimicrobial films and coatings;
• Antifouling films and coatings;
• Immobilization of biofunctional molecules and biomolecules to form biofunctional films and coatings;
• Drug delivery films and coatings;
• Medical implants and tissue scaffolds.