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 .

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

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)

Risha Achaiah Iythichanda, Sukanya Maity, Mustafa Mahmoud Aboulsaad, Tomas Edvinsson, Johanna Ros茅n, Per O A Persson (2026) Nanoscale Advances (Article in journal)

Sanath Kumar Honnali, Grzegorz Greczynski, Olivier Donzel-Gargand, Sagar Jathar, Daniel Lundin, Ganpati Ramanath, Per Eklund (2026) Materials & design, Vol. 268, Article 116454 (Article in journal)

Eric Nestor Tseng, Jonas Bj枚rk, Risha Achaiah Iythichanda, Wei Zheng, Jie Zhou, Hatim Alnoor, Wei Hsiang Huang, Ming-Hsien Lin, Johanna Ros茅n, Per O A Persson (2026) Journal of the American Chemical Society, Vol. 148, p. 27562-27569 (Article in journal)

Chih Yang Huang, Filip Gucmann, Anoop Kumar Singh, Po-Hsun Chen, Chien-Nan Hsiao, Edmund Dobrocka, Milan Tapajna, Igor Pis, Matej Micusik, Siddharth Rana, Dong-Sing Wuu, Po-Liang Liu, Kenneth J盲rrendahl, Ching-Lien Hsiao, Ray-Hua Horng (2026) DISCOVER NANO, Vol. 21, Article 325 (Article in journal)

Changjie Huang, Florian Chabanais, Risha Achaiah Iythichanda, Leiqiang Qin, Johanna Ros茅n, Per O A Persson, Justinas Palisaitis (2026) Microscopy and Microanalysis, Vol. 32, Article ozag068 (Article in journal)

Yu-Hsuan Hsu, Roger Magnusson, Rohini Sanikop, Shailesh Kalal, Justinas Palisaitis, Sagar Jathar, Katrin Pingen, Per Sandstr枚m, Issa Nseir, Arnaud le Febvrier, Urban Forsberg, Ray-Hua Horng, Kenneth J盲rrendahl, Per Eklund, Vanya Darakchieva, Jens Birch, Ching-Lien Hsiao (2026) Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 129, Article 031902 (Article in journal)

Hans Arwin, Stefan Schoeche, Arturo Mendoza-Galvan, Kenneth J盲rrendahl, James N. Hilfiker, Roger Magnusson (2026) AIP Advances, Vol. 16, Article 065115 (Article in journal)

Charlotte Poterie, Marc Marteau, Per Eklund, Thierry Cabioc'h, Jean-Francois Barbot, Arnaud le Febvrier (2026) Materials Science in Semiconductor Processing, Vol. 212, Article 110801 (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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