Grand challenges in coatings, dyes and interface engineering

Abstract

The subject areas of Coatings, Dyes and Interface Engineering are rarely seen together although there is potentially a huge synergy from embracing coatings-dyes-interface interactions. This allows an enabling science that aligns with global grand challenges such as net zero (batteries, renewal energy systems, low drag, antifouling and low friction interfaces, self-healing coatings, functionally graded, composite and multi-layered coatings sustainability of coatings, etc.), biomedical/health technologies, space and security. Coatings, dyes and interfaces engineering are used to optimize the functionality and to improve the entire function of materials and surfaces. Coatings have a wide range of forms, such as paints, adhesives, semiconductor thin films, hard facings and have a varied application route such as mechanical systems, solar cells, domestic appliances, photonics, smart coatings, microelectronics, offshore renewables, biomedical and photographic films. Several application and synthesis methods, such as sol-gel, spin, dip, physical and chemical vapour deposition, thermal spray, weld overlays, plasma electrolytic oxidation, atomic layer deposition, electroplating and so on, have been used for thin or thick hard and soft coatings and films.This article looks at recent state-of-the-art and related special issues and review papers to identify trends and future challenges for research in these areas. In scope for embracing coatings-dyesinterface interactions are thin and thick, composite, hard and soft coatings, coating structure and properties, processes for coating deposition, modification and characterization techniques, functional, smart, self-healing and sensing coatings, dyes, pigments and their intermediates. These in turn rely on fundamental mechanical and chemical as well as functional properties of surfaces and interfaces, theoretical and computational modelling of surfaces and interfaces as well as colloids, nanoparticles and large interfaces. The key to improved performance of coatings-dyesinterface engineering is understanding the manufacturer-composition-properties-performance interactions aligned to the service environment and operating conditions. Such research will be essential for energy research, photovoltaics, battery and electrochemical surfaces, biomedical applications, electronic applications of dyes and pigments, low friction, efficient machines and low drag, hydrophobic and nature inspired coatings. However, new understanding is needed for dynamic interfaces covering wear, corrosion, erosion for example. Modern measurement and imaging systems now allow in-situ and non-destructive monitoring of these interfaces. Miniaturisation of sensors and embedding sensors alongside or within interfaces is now possible which should provide a digital data stream for machine learning algorithms to allow smart interface management. Therefore, the challenges now lie around the synthesis and characterization of thin films and multifunctional coatings and the use of novel interface characterization techniq...