Thin Film Physics and Chemistry (TF)

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 .

Research at Thin film physics division

Fundamental Science of Thin Films unit

We aim at increasing the atomistic understanding of vapor phase deposition, ion-surface interactions, and phase transitions in advanced materials.

Nano-materials Science unit

Conducting focused research aimed at understanding and controlling atomistic processes during synthesis of nanostructures and thin films.

Materials Optics unit

We combine material optics and development of ellipsometric methodology to analyse optical properties and nanostructures of bulk materials, thin films and their interfaces.

The image shows graphene-metal interfaces

Functional Materials unit

We investigate the properties of thin films synthesized using various Vapor Deposition and Sputtering techniques.

Mirror-reflected Valence Electron Energy Loss Spectrum line scan obtained across an AlInN multilayer grown on sapphire

Electron Microscopy of Materials unit

Our research focuses on the application and development of advanced electron microscopy techniques to study the structure and chemistry of materials at the highest attainable spatial resolution.

Coloured SEM image of unique truss like structures

Plasma and Coatings Physics

Our overall goal is to contribute towards addressing challenges of contemporary materials science and technology through the synthesis of novel films and nanomaterials.

Doctoral education

Fysikhuset, Campus Valla, Link枚ping University.

Doctoral studies in Materials Science

Doctoral studies in Materials Science, with a particular link to condensed matter physics and nanotechnology, are focused on experimental activities on materials, including computations and modelling of these materials.

News

Ulf Helmersson accepterar PSE Award 2026

Ulf Helmersson receives PSE Leading Scientist Award 2026

LiU-professor Ulf Helmersson has been awarded the prestigious PSE Leading Scientist Award 2026for his scientific and technological contributions to plasma and surface engineering.

Boosting Europe's semiconductor manufacturing

LiU has deepened its research collaboration with the German graphite manufacturer SGL Carbon, with the long-term aim of strengthening European semiconductor manufacturing. Together, they have developed a purpose-built CVD tool on Campus Valla.

National research infrastructure secures continued funding

The Swedish Research Infrastructure for Advanced Electron Microscopy, ARTEMI, has secured funding from the Swedish Research Council for another two years. It is crucial for advanced research in materials science, inorganic chemistry and physics.

Contact

Division head and administration

Heads of units

Staff

Visiting address

Campus Valla, Building F

Mail address

Linköping University
IFM
581 83 Linköping

Publications

2026

Hector Guerra Yanez, Mattia Cabrioli, Andrea Stinchelli, Fabio Di Fonzo, Per O A Persson (2026) Journal of Nuclear Materials, Vol. 634, Article 157150 (Article in journal)

Siddharth Rana, Chun-Kai Huang, Jun-Ting Ye, Kenneth J盲rrendahl, Ching-Lien Hsiao, Ray-Hua Horng (2026) ACS Applied Electronic Materials (Article in journal)

Grzegorz Greczynski (2026) Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology. A. Vacuum, Surfaces, and Films, Vol. 44, Article 060801 (Article, review/survey)

Sagar Jathar, Sanath Kumar Honnali, Arnaud le Febvrier, Johan Nyman, Daniel Lundin, Grzegorz Greczynski, Magnus Od茅n, Per Eklund (2026) Surface & Coatings Technology, Vol. 539, Article 133967 (Article in journal)

Aditya Singh, Arnaud le Febvrier, Sanath Kumar Honnali, Abhisek Mishra, Grzegorz Greczynski, Subhankar Bedanta, Per Eklund, Ajay Soni (2026) Advanced Science (Article in journal)

Daniela Gogova-Petrova, Dat Tran, Vallery Stanishev, Danial Shafizadeh, Ching-Lien Hsiao, Minho Kim, B. Pecz, A. Kovacs, K. Frey, A. Sulyok, Niraj Kumar Singh, Arnaud Le Febvrier, Per Eklund, Vanya Darakchieva (2026) Advanced Optical Materials, Vol. 14, Article e71758 (Article in journal)

Sanath Kumar Honnali, Melvin Maginet, Rommel Paulo Viloan, Arnaud le Febvrier, Daniel Lundin, Grzegorz Greczynski, Per Eklund (2026) Surface & Coatings Technology, Vol. 538, Article 133845 (Article in journal)

Yuyang Li, Mohammad Javad Jafari, Dongqing Lin, Justinas Palisaitis, Yangpeiqi Yi, Jonas Oshaug Pedersen, Yulong Duan, Per O. 脜. Persson, Magnus Jonsson, Thomas Ederth, Klas Tybrandt (2026) Small Science, Vol. 6, Article e70401 (Article in journal)

Ivan Yakymenko, Alessandra Luchini, Joshaniel F. K. Cooper, Sebastian Kohler, Tommy Nylander, Sean Langridge, Christy J. Kinane, Andrew J. Caruana, Bjorgvin Hjorvarsson, Max Wolff, Alexei Vorobiev, Sergiy Valyukh, Fredrik Eriksson, Jens Birch, Kenneth J盲rrendahl (2026) Journal of applied crystallography, Vol. 59, p. 1192-1199 (Article in journal)

Marcus Hans, Grzegorz Greczynski, Claus Rebholz, Sven Ulrich, Claudia Fleischmann, Henrik Pedersen, Jan-Eric Sundgren, Christian Mitterer (2026) Surface & Coatings Technology, Vol. 537, Article 133826 (Article in journal)

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Person with transmission electron microscope.

Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology (IFM)

Excellent undergraduate teaching and research in the areas of biology, chemistry, materials and applied physics and theory and modelling are conducted at this department.

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