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 .

More about our research

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.

A single atom layer of gold 鈥� 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.

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

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.

Contact

Division head and administration

Heads of units

Staff

Susmita Chowdhury

Sanath Kumar Honnali

Sagar Bhaurao Jathar

Fundamental science of thin films, Grzegorz Grzeczynski is head of unit

Grzegorz Greczynski

Professor, Head of Unit

Plasma and coatings physics, Daniel Lundin is head of unit

Nastaran Behravan

Robert Boyd

Principal Research Engineer

Sebastian Ekeroth

Adjunct Associate Professor

Senior Associate Professor, Head of Unit

Tetsuhide Shimizu

Rommel Paulo Viloan

Postdoc

Visiting address

Campus Valla, Building F

Mail address

Linköping University
IFM
581 83 Linköping

Publications

2025

Grzegorz Sadowski, Arnaud le Febvrier, Johan Hektor, Per Eklund, Denis Music (2025) Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 127, Article 133102 (Article in journal)

Anton Zubayer, T. Hanashima, J. Sugiyama, A. David, Xianjie Liu, Naureen Ghafoor, J. Stahn, A. Glavic, Y. Murakami, T. Takehiro, Y. Tomita, M. Auchi, Jens Birch, Mats Fahlman, Fredrik Eriksson (2025) Materials & design, Vol. 257, Article 114387 (Article in journal)

Aditya Singh, Divya Rawat, Victor Hjort, Abhisek Mishra, Arnaud le Febvrier, Subhankar Bedanta, Per Eklund, Ajay Soni (2025) Advanced Materials Interfaces, Article e00586 (Article in journal)

Anton Zubayer, Fredrik Eriksson, Naureen Ghafoor, Jochen Stahn, Jens Birch, Artur Glavic (2025) Journal of applied crystallography, Vol. 58, p. 1299-1310 (Article in journal)

Grzegorz Greczynski (2025) Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 138, Article 095306 (Article in journal)

Hugo Bouteiller, Charlotte Poterie, Razvan Burcea, Daniele Fournier, Younes Ezzahri, Sylvain Dubois, Per Eklund, Arnaud Le Febvrier, Jean-Francois Barbot (2025) Advanced Materials Interfaces, Article e00436 (Article in journal)

Hari Hara Sudhan Thangavelu, Changjie Huang, Florian Chabanais, Justinas Palisaitis, Per O A Persson (2025) Advanced Functional Materials, Article e15604 (Article, review/survey)

Matheus A. Tunes, Sean M. Drewry, Franziska Schmidt, James A. Valdez, Matthew M. Schneider, Caitlin A. Kohnert, Tarik A. Saleh, Saryu Fensin, Stuart A. Maloy, Claudio G. Schon, Sylvain Dubois, Omri Tabo, Anna Eyal, Amit Keren, Asaf Pesach, Ganesh K. Nayak, Stavros Richard G. Christopoulos, Marco Molinari, Marcus Hans, Nick Goossens, Shuigen Huang, Jochen M. Schneider, Per O A Persson, Jozef Vleugels, Konstantina Lambrinou (2025) Advanced Materials, Article e08168 (Article in journal)

Yeying Li, Leixi Du, Liping Zhang, Changjie Huang, Justinas Palisaitis, Jingkun Xu, Johanna Rosén, Jianxia Jiang, Leiqiang Qin (2025) Advanced Science, Article e11815 (Article in journal)

Fanshuai Zeng, Junjie Jin, Shuting Liu, Guan Sheng, Udo Schwingenschlogl, Justinas Palisaitis, Jie Zhou, Johanna Rosén, Shaobo Tu (2025) Communications Materials, Vol. 6, Article 126 (Article in journal)

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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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