Current Status, Challenges, and Future Prospects of Thin Film Coating Techniques and Coating Structures

Thin film technology has been widely used in various industries to improve the mechanical, physical, and chemical properties of bulk materials. This review paper provides an overview of the current status, challenges, and future prospects of thin film coating techniques and coating structures. Besides, the paper discusses various thin film coating processes, including their unique characteristics, future prospects, and common uses, such as improving energy efficiency, wear resistance, and corrosion resistance. However, despite advances in thin film manufacturing, major challenges remain, such as precise prediction of film features based on ensuing microstructures and highly sophisticated characterisation procedures in the biomedical sector. The paper concludes with a discussion of future projections and significant aspects for depositing high-quality coatings via thin film coating technologies. The review highlights the importance of continued research and development in thin film coating techniques to address the challenges and explore new applications in various industries. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.] © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.