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

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.

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.

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

Binbin Xin, Arnaud Le Febvrier, Shu Xiao, Changlin Yu, Biplab Paul, Per Eklund (2026) Materials & design, Vol. 264, Article 115820 (Article in journal)

Marcus Lorentzon, Kenneth Järrendahl, Roger Magnusson, Jens Birch, Naureen Ghafoor (2026) Materials Today Communications, Vol. 52, Article 114960 (Article in journal)

Sagar Jathar, Chaimaa Fikry, Olivier Donzel-Gargand, Sanath Kumar Honnali, Alireza Farhadizadeh, Arnaud Le Febvrier, Rebecka Lindblad, Magnus Odén, Leif Nyholm, Per Eklund (2026) Materials & design, Vol. 263, Article 115620 (Article in journal)

Grzegorz Greczynski (2026) Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology. A. Vacuum, Surfaces, and Films, Vol. 44, Article 023203 (Article in journal)

Shun Kashiwaya, Stephen Nagaraju Myakala, Sho Nekita, Yuta Tsuji, Yuran Niu, Xianjie Liu, Leiqiang Qin, Manisha Sharma, Alexei Zakharov, Lars Hultman, Dominik Eder, Hikaru Saito, Alexey Cherevan, Johanna Rosén (2026) Advanced Materials, Article PMID 9885358 (Article in journal)

Hanyan Wu, Yingxue An, Luigi Fabiano, Qifan Li, Qingqing Wang, Feng Zhang, Wenlong Jin, Miao Xiong, Junpeng Ji, Ugo Bruno, Grzegorz Greczynski, Grazia Maria Lucia Messina, Xianjie Liu, Chiyuan Yang, Simone Fabiano (2026) Advanced Materials, Article PMID 9885358 (Article in journal)

Leiqiang Qin, Rutuparna Samal, Jianxia Jiang, Joseph Halim, Ningjun Chen, Florian Chabanais, Per O A Persson, Johanna Rosén (2026) Energy & Environmental Materials (Article in journal)

Marcus Lorentzon, Rainer Hahn, Justinas Palisaitis, Helmut Riedl, Lars Hultman, Jens Birch, Naureen Ghafoor (2026) Materials & design, Vol. 261, Article 115383 (Article in journal)

Shun Kashiwaya, Yuchen Shi, Jun Lu, Davide Sangiovanni, Grzegorz Greczynski, Martin Magnuson, Mike Andersson, Johanna Rosén, Lars Hultman (2026) NATURE SYNTHESIS (Article in journal)

Sebastian Kohler, Thomas Arnold, Jens Birch, Marite Cardenas, Samira Dorri, Martin Mansson, Tommy Nylander, Sarah Rogers, Stephan V. Roth, Yasmine Sassa, Max Wolff (2026) Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, Vol. 349, Article 103757 (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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