Thin Film Physics (TUNNF)

Our research concerns design of new multifunctional materials for hard and wear-resistant coatings, energy materials, magnetic materials, electronics, optics, neutron-converting materials, wide-bandgap semiconductors, and more.

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.

More about our research

Four researchers

Neutron optics company started by LiU-researchers

Quantum Beam Optics (QBO) aims to bring advanced multilayer neutron optics technology to the international market. Neutron optics is used in a wide variaty of research and the company is promising high performance and cost-effectiveness.

Two researchers in a lab.

A single atom layer of gold – LiU researchers create goldene

For the first time, scientists have managed to create sheets of gold only a single atom layer thick. According to the researchers from LiU this has given the gold new properties that can make it suitable for use in various applications.

Tre persons in lab coates.

Better neutron mirrors can reveal the inner secrets of matter

An improved neutron mirror has been developed by researchers at LiU by coating a silicon plate with extremely thin layers of iron and silicon mixed with boron carbide. It paves the way for better studies of materials.

Research at Thin film physics division

Doctoral education

Contact

Staff

Visiting address

Campus Valla, Building F

Mail address

Linköping University
IFM
581 83 Linköping

Publications

2025

Marcus Lorentzon, Davide Sangiovanni, Naoki Takata, Tianqi Zhu, Rainer Hahn, Justinas Palisaitis, Lars Hultman, Jens Birch, Naureen Ghafoor (2025) Metal-like ductility and high hardness in nitrogen-rich HfN thin films by point defect superstructuring Communications Materials, Vol. 6, Article 46 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Anton Zubayer, Fredrik Eriksson, Martin Falk, Marcus Lorentzon, Justinas Palisaitis, Christine Klauser, Gyula Nagy, Philipp M. Wolf, Eduardo Pitthan, Radek Holenak, Daniel Primetzhofer, Gavin B. G. Stenning, Artur Glavic, Jochen Stahn, Samira Dorri, Per Eklund, Jens Birch, Naureen Ghafoor (2025) The Role of 11B4C Interlayers in Enhancing Fe/Si Multilayer Performance for Polarized Neutron Mirrors The Journal of Physical Chemistry C (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Yu-Ru Li, Anoop Kumar Singh, Yu-Cheng Kao, Dong-Sing Wuu, Ching-Lien Hsiao, Kenneth Järrendahl, Ray-Hua Horng (2025) Improved performance of lateral (3-Ga2O3 Schottky barrier diodes by nitrogen thermal annealing Applied Surface Science Advances, Vol. 27, Article 100744 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Susmita Chowdhury, Hector Guerra Yanez, Sanath Kumar Honnali, Grzegorz Greczynski, Per O A Persson, Arnaud Le Febvrier, Martin Magnuson, Per Eklund (2025) Structural and electronic properties of Sc1-xWxNy thin films on MgO(001) Applied Materials Today, Vol. 44, Article 102730 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Shun Kashiwaya, Yuchen Shi, Johanna Rosén, Lars Hultman (2025) Perspectives on noble metallenes: from synthesis to application 2D Materials, Vol. 12, Article 033001 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Vladyslav Rogoz, Bartosz Wicher, Xiao Li, Justinas Palisaitis, Daniel Primetzhofer, Lars Hultman, Grzegorz Greczynski (2025) Guinier-Preston zone hardening during vacuum annealing of (Ti1-xAlx)0.92W0.08N (0.07 ≤ x ≤ 0.79) thin films Acta Materialia, Vol. 289, Article 120916 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Yuchen Shi, Shun Kashiwaya, Jun Lu, Martin Dahlqvist, Davide Giuseppe Sangiovanni, Vladyslav Rogoz, Martin Magnuson, Grzegorz Greczynski, Mike Andersson, Johanna Rosén, Lars Hultman (2025) Synthesis of Ti4Au3C3 and its derivative trilayer goldene through chemical exfoliation Science Advances, Vol. 11 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Katrin Pingen, Niklas Wolff, Alexander M. Hinz, Per Sandström, Susanne Beuer, Lorenz Kienle, Vanya Darakchieva, Lars Hultman, Jens Birch, Ching-Lien Hsiao (2025) Growth of non-polar and semi-polar GaN on sapphire substrates by magnetron sputter epitaxy? Applied Surface Science Advances, Vol. 26, Article 100722 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Arun Haridas Choolakkal, Pamburayi Mpofu, Pentti Niiranen, Jens Birch, Henrik Pedersen (2025) Using a Heavy Inert Diffusion Additive for Superconformal Atomic Layer Deposition The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, Vol. 16, p. 2369-2372 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Chih-Yang Huang, Xin-Ying Tsai, Fu-Gow Tarntair, Anoop Kumar Singh, Shao-Hui Hsu, Dong-Sing Wuu, Kenneth Järrendahl, Ching-Lien Hsiao, Ray-Hua Horng (2025) Fabrication of vertical gallium oxide PN diodes using homoepitaxial growth by MOCVD and ion implantation technology Materials Today Advances, Vol. 25, Article 100568 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI

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