Deposition of aluminum nitride by magnetron sputtering Photo credit Samiran Bairagi
Brief overview
The Thin Film Physics Division conducts application-inspired basic research on thin films to fundamentally understand the atomistic nature of materials properties and behavior and learn how to make materials perform better through new methods of synthesis and processing. Our research concerns design of new multifunctional materials for hard and wear-resistant coatings, energy materials, magnetic materials, electronics, optics, neutron-converting materials for the ESS, wide-bandgap semiconductors, and more. Results are explored in collaboration with industry and the properties of structures unique to thin films form the basis for new and improved materials and processes in applications. We work in an excellent infrastructure with access to a large number of deposition systems, and analytical instruments. Many of them are found in the department instrument booking system.
