Thin Film Physics (TUNNF)

Our research concerns design of new multifunctional materials for hard and wear-resistant coatings, energy materials, magnetic materials, electronics, neutron-converting materials for the ESS, 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, 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.

Infrastructure

We work in an excellent infrastructure with access to all of the following instruments and more:

Deposition systems

  • Adam
  • Bifrost
  • Jessie
  • Laura
  • Ragnarök
  • Samson
  • Nidhögg
  • Zeb
  • Sprak
  • Medusa
  • Hydra

Analytical instruments

  • TEM, FEI Titan Cube
  • TEM, FEI Tecnai G2
  • Fib, Zeiss 1540EsB
  • SEM, LEO 1550 Gemini
  • Hysitron Triboindenter TI950
  • Nanoindenter, Umis
  • Auger
  • Ellipsometry lab
  • Metalmicroscope
  • XRD Asterix
  • XRD Idefix
  • XRD Majestix
  • XRD Empyrean
  • XRD X'pert PRO
  • XPS Phortos
  • ToF-Sims
  • Sample preparation microscopy

To instrument booking.

Research at Thin film physics division

Doctoral education

More about our research

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.

A smiling man in a blue jacket and a lightblue shirt

Innovative semiconductor research from LiU to Silicon Valley

LiU alumnus and doctoral student Ivan Martinovic swapped Swedish winter for a warmer climate and headed for Silicon Valley.  He represents the LEAD company Polar Light Technologies in Berkeley SkyDeck’s sought-after accelerator programme.

Contact

Staff

Visiting address

Campus Valla, Building F

Mail address

Linköping University
IFM
581 83 Linköping

Publications

2024

Arturo Mendoza-Galvan, Roger Magnusson, Niklas Jansson, Hans Arwin, Kenneth Järrendahl (2024) Dual chiral structures in the cuticle of <i>Protaetia mirifica</i> analyzed with Mueller matrix spectroscopic ellipsometry Frontiers in Physics, Vol. 12, Article 1444297 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Beatriz Mendoza-Sanchez, Atharva H. Ladole, Enrique Samperio-Niembro, Stefan Mangold, Michael Knapp, Eric N. Tseng, Per O. Å. Persson, Camille Douard, Christopher E. Shuck, Thierry Brousse (2024) On the atomic structure of monolayer V4C3Tz and the study of charge storage processes in an acidic electrolyte using SPEIS and in-situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy Energy Storage Materials, Vol. 71, Article 103566 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Rodrigo Ronchi, Joseph Halim, Ningjun Chen, Per O A Persson, Johanna Rosén (2024) Defect Engineering: Synthesis and Electrochemical Properties of Two-Dimensional Mo1.74CTz MXene SMALL SCIENCE (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Sachin Sharma, Laurent Souqui, Justinas Palisaitis, Duc Quang Hoang, Ivan Gueorguiev Ivanov, Per O A Persson, Hans Högberg, Henrik Pedersen (2024) On the origin of epitaxial rhombohedral-B4C growth by CVD on 4H-SiC Dalton Transactions, Vol. 53, p. 10730-10736 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Jonas Björk, Jie Zhou, Per O. Å. Persson, Johanna Rosén (2024) Two-dimensional materials by large-scale computations and chemical exfoliation of layered solids Science, Vol. 383, p. 1210-1215 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Marcus Lorentzon, Michael Meindlhumer, Justinas Palisaitis, Grzegorz Greczynski, Jozef Keckes, Johanna Rosén, Lars Hultman, Jens Birch, Naureen Ghafoor (2024) Toughness enhancement in TiN/Zr 0.37 Al 0.63 N 1.09 multilayer films Acta Materialia, Vol. 273, Article 119979 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Sjoerd Stendahl, Naureen Ghafoor, Anton Zubayer, Marcus Lorentzon, Alexei Vorobiev, Jens Birch, Fredrik Eriksson (2024) Material design optimization for large-m 11B4C-based Ni/Ti supermirror neutron optics Materials & design, Vol. 243, Article 113061 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Katrin Pingen, Niklas Wolff, Zahra Mohammadian, Pär Sandström, Susanne Beuer, Elizabeth von Hauff, Lorenz Kienle, Lars Hultman, Jens Birch, Ching-Lien Hsiao, Alexander M. Hinz (2024) III-Nitride Magnetron Sputter Epitaxy on Si: Controlling Morphology, Crystal Quality, and Polarity Using Al Seed Layers ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, Vol. 16, p. 34294-34302 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Davide G. Sangiovanni, Collin Rowe, Geetu Sharma, Michael Lane, Per Eklund, Ganpati Ramanath (2024) Strain hardening and toughening in metal/molecular nanolayer/metal nanosandwiches Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 124, Article 261601 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Oleksandr Pshyk, Bartosz Wicher, Justinas Palisaitis, Lars Hultman, Grzegorz Greczynski (2024) Advanced film/substrate interface engineering for adhesion improvement employing time- and energy-controlled metal ion irradiation Applied Surface Science, Vol. 669, Article 160554 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI

Back to IFM