From cell phones to solar panels to quantum computers, thin films are essential to current and emerging technologies. But making functional thin films requires control. During hours-long processes, ...

Typically less than one micron thick, thin films can be conductive or dielectric (non-conductive) and are used in myriad applications. For example, the top metallic layer on a chip and the coating ...

Dendritic structures that emerge during the growth of thin films are a major obstacle in large-area fabrication, a key step towards commercialization. However, current methods of studying dendrites ...

A team of researchers from Saarland University in Germany has found a way to turn super-thin, stretchy films—about the thickness of kitchen cling wrap—into smart materials that can bring everyday ...

A new technology has been developed that enables the manufacturing of thin films, which typically require complex processes, ...

Thin film devices, composed of layers of materials a few nanometers thick, play an important role in various technologies, from semiconductors to communication technologies. For instance, graphene and ...