Library · Materials, chemistry & fabrication
What Thin-Film Coating & Vapor Deposition got wrong, from 74 theses
Summary written by a model from the records below: The records describe various processing challenges and operational failures encountered during physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, and solution coating processes. Common issues include film delamination, thermal cracking, void formation, evaporation of volatile constituents, and degradation of underlying substrates. These records come from graduate theses, 2021 to 2026, each labeled with its degree where the repository states it, and each links to its thesis. They were extracted by language models reading the full text, so treat each as a lead to read, not a verdict.
Plus 9 problems the authors left open, listed at the end.
Failure modes, by theses reporting them
Select a mode to jump to its records.
Coatings detach or delaminate from substrates due to poor interfacial adhesion and internal stress
Deposited films often suffer from weak interfacial bonding, mechanical shear during drilling or washing, and excessive tensile or compressive stresses that trigger peeling. These adhesion failures lead to spontaneous layer detachment across metals, ceramics, and polymer substrates during post-deposition handling or thermal testing.
Tried and failed
electrodeposition of graphene-metal nanocomposite coatings applied to screen-printed carbon electrodes. Outcome: unstable. Reason: poor coating adhesion led to layer detachment and instability upon washing
Biosensors for exhaled breath condensate analysis · Imperial · PhD
Tried and failed
low-temperature chemical vapor deposition applied to flexible polymer substrates with oxide coatings. Reason: poor interfacial adhesion causing film delamination during mechanical tape testing
Chemical Vapor Deposition of the Transparent p-Type Semiconductor Cuprous Iodide for Application in Flexible Thin-Film Photovoltaics · Harvard · PhD
Tried and failed
physical vapor deposition of crystalline porous frameworks applied to ceramic substrate coatings. Outcome: unstable. Reason: weak interfacial adhesion caused the deposited layer to detach during solvent washing
Framework-based nanofiltration membranes for liquid separation · Imperial · PhD
Tried and failed
direct chemical vapor deposition of diamond applied to gallium nitride substrates. Reason: weak interfacial adhesion and film delamination due to lack of carbide bond formation
THERMAL TRANSPORT PROPERTIES OF ULTRAWIDE BANDGAP SEMICONDUCTORS FOR NEXT GENERATION POWER ELECTRONICS · Cornell · PhD
Tried and failed
electron-beam physical vapor deposition metal lift-off applied to patterning metals on topographic microelectrode arrays. Outcome: unstable. Reason: directional deposition caused poor sidewall coverage and thermal stress led to film peel-off
Multimodal And Multifunctional CMOS Cellular Sensing And Actuating Array With Enhanced Electronics-Biology Interface · Georgia Tech · PhD
Tried and failed
electron-beam physical vapor deposition of thick silicon dioxide applied to gallium nitride substrates. Outcome: unstable. Reason: film peeling above ~500 nm caused by high tensile residual stress
Development, Fabrication and Characterization of III-Nitride Bipolar Devices: Rectifiers, Avalanche Photodiodes, and Laser Diodes · Georgia Tech · PhD
Lost to a baseline
Single HA coating obtained through electrodeposition had low bonding strength of about 4–6 MPa and peeled off compared to duplex MAO/HA coatings
The dentinogenic effects of magnesium chloride and magnesium oxide on human dental pulp cells: an in vitro study · Boston University · Doctorate
Tried and failed
thermal spray deposition without electrochemical surface pretreatment applied to protective coatings on reactive metal substrates. Outcome: unstable. Reason: lack of intermediate conversion layer caused poor adherence, high film porosity, and spontaneous delamination
Protection of magnesium alloys from corrosion using magnesium rich surfaces. · Cranfield · PhD
Tried and failed
sulfide vapor deposition coating applied to porous metal foam current collectors. Outcome: unstable. Reason: poor interfacial coating adhesion caused delamination and exposed base metal, triggering premature voltage runaway
Microstructural design principles for stable interphases in alkali-metal and anode-free batteries · UT Austin · PhD
Tried and failed
direct coating of polymer-metal composites applied to stainless steel substrates. Reason: poor interfacial bonding causing delamination during standard tape adhesion testing
Iron-Based Microstructures For Biodegradable And Non-Biodegradable Applications · Penn · PhD
Tried and failed
Low-pressure magnetron sputtering of oxide coatings applied to multilayer thin-film optoelectronic stacks. Outcome: unstable. Reason: High compressive stress induced by energetic ion bombardment caused thin-film delamination
Next generation optoelectronic devices for energy applications utilising metal oxides, bismuth oxyhalides and lead halide perovskites · Cambridge · PhD
Lost to a baseline
Under dynamic flow and salt spray conditions, CBS-pigmented coatings suffered complete delamination while pure epoxy experienced only partial delamination
Development and characterization of sustainable coatings for environmentally benign marine transportation applications · Dalhousie · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Abandoned e-beam evaporation for Pt electrode deposition in favor of sputter deposition to resolve poor adhesion issues
The impact of mass transport and surface charging on the performance of field effect transistor biosensors · Georgia Tech · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected spin coating and low-pressure vapour deposition silanisation methods in favour of liquid immersion silanisation (3% v/v silane in EtOH with 0.1% acetic acid) due to superior prevention of mould delamination.
Fabrication of Polymeric Nano- and Micro-structures using Two-Photon Polymerisation and Replica Moulding · University College Dublin · PhD
Tried and failed
vacuum-assisted physical seed coating applied to porous ceramic hollow fiber membranes. Outcome: unstable. Reason: poor interfacial attachment caused seed layer cracking and delamination during secondary growth
Framework-based nanofiltration membranes for liquid separation · Imperial · PhD
Tried and failed
solution blade coating of thick precursor films applied to flexible conductive polymer substrates. Outcome: unstable. Reason: acidic precursor solution degraded substrate conductive layer and caused mechanical delamination above critical thickness
Metal oxide nanocrystals for visible and near-infrared selective electrochromic devices · UT Austin · PhD
Tried and failed
spray-coating 2D transition metal carbides on polymers applied to submerged chronic neural interface electrodes. Outcome: unstable. Reason: rapid degradation and delamination within days due to aqueous moisture intercalation at physiological conditions
DEVELOPING TRANSLATIONAL MULTIMODAL NEUROTECHNOLOGY ACROSS MULTIPLE SCALES USING NOVEL MATERIALS AND APPROACHES · Penn · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected pure PDMS coatings on the limiting element due to recurring layer detachment causing physical damage transferred directly to printed surfaces.
Hybrid aerosol jet-stereolithography process for fabrication of index-variable optics · Leibniz Universität Hannover · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected PCD tool coatings in favor of solid PCD blanks due to periodic delamination/peeling off of diamond particles during ceramic machining.
Fundamental Investigation on the Micro-milling Process for Machining of Difficult-to-machine Materials · University College Dublin · PhD
Coated components exhibit inferior wear resistance and corrosion protection compared to baseline materials
Several composite, multilayered, and physical vapor deposited coatings underperformed uncoated base metals or simpler single-layer benchmarks in hardness, friction, and cyclic wear tests. In addition, certain protective coatings developed higher corrosion rates or lost passivity faster than conventional alloys in aggressive corrosive environments.
Lost to a baseline
Al-7075 control baseline had lowest specific wear rate (5.1757 x 10–12 m3/Nm) and lowest wear depth (6.29 µm), outperforming all reinforced composite coatings.
CORROSION AND WEAR RESISTANCE OF DUAL-REINFORCED AL-7075 COLD SPRAYED COATINGS · Naval Postgraduate School · Master's
Lost to a baseline
LASQ-FP/6.0 wear resistance was superior to LASQ-PDMS coatings during steel wool abrasion and ink contraction (300 vs 60 strokes).
Hard and Wear-resistant Omniphobic Ladderlike Polysilsesquioxane Coatings for Anti-smudge and Ice-Shedding Applications · Queen's University · PhD
Lost to a baseline
Atmospheric plasma jet coating on upside-down mixed EUSD failed under tribological stress after ~70 cycles, degrading into stick-slip with high friction compared to commercial sliding varnish.
Einfluss der Wechselwirkungen auf die Substratanbindung von Atmosphärendruck-Plasmaschichten · Leibniz Universität Hannover · PhD
Lost to a baseline
Annealed pure EN coating exhibited higher hardness (11.70 GPa vs 8.60 GPa monolayered and 5.74 GPa multilayered) and higher scratch hardness (17 GPa vs 3.9 GPa and 5.2 GPa).
Comparative Study Between Monolayered and Multilayered Electroless NI-CO-P-PTFE Coatings on Mild Carbon Steel · Dalhousie · Master's
Lost to a baseline
As-deposited pure EN coating had lower corrosion current density (3.12 µA vs 4.79 µA) and higher Rp (83.6 kΩ vs 54.51 kΩ) than the multilayered EN-Co-PTFE coating.
Comparative Study Between Monolayered and Multilayered Electroless NI-CO-P-PTFE Coatings on Mild Carbon Steel · Dalhousie · Master's
Lost to a baseline
Thicker PVD coatings underperformed thinner coatings in shock tests, contrary to literature expectations.
Optimization of composition and structure of cemented carbide cutting tools · EPFL · PhD
Lost to a baseline
Pure unreinforced Al outperformed all reinforced composite coatings in dry-sliding wear resistance (0.0006 g mass loss vs 0.0016–0.0024 g).
ENHANCING MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF COLD-SPRAYED ALUMINUM COATINGS USING GRAPHENE-NANOPLATELET AND MICRO-BORON-CARBIDE REINFORCEMENTS · Naval Postgraduate School · Master's
Lost to a baseline
A2 tool steel displayed higher corrosion resistance (0.065 mm/year corrosion rate) than the 850 °C Fe-based BMG coating (0.139 mm/year) in 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution.
TRIBOLOGICAL AND CORROSION PROPERTIES OF FE-BASED BULK METALLIC GLASS COATED ZE41A-T5 MAGNESIUM ALLOY · Saskatchewan · Master's
Lost to a baseline
Plating an EN-P-PTFE composite coating on an annealed EN-Co-P alloy layer ([ENCO]PTFE) compromised coating hardness (3.73 GPa) and scratch hardness (2.7 GPa) compared to the fully annealed multilayered coating (5.74 GPa and 5.2 GPa).
Comparative Study Between Monolayered and Multilayered Electroless NI-CO-P-PTFE Coatings on Mild Carbon Steel · Dalhousie · Master's
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Single-layer cold-spray deposition was rejected because wear testing wore completely through the coating thickness; two layers were used instead.
ENHANCING MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF COLD-SPRAYED ALUMINUM COATINGS USING GRAPHENE-NANOPLATELET AND MICRO-BORON-CARBIDE REINFORCEMENTS · Naval Postgraduate School · Master's
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected using thin metal coatings on steel to study alloying element effects because coatings could not survive sliding-rolling contact conditions.
Tribochemical investigation of ZDDP tribofilm · Imperial · Doctorate
Lost to a baseline
Dip-coated EBC corrosion rate (2.04 µm min^-1) was higher (worse) than APS coatings (1.67 µm min^-1) due to higher open porosity and larger pore sizes.
Lost to a baseline
Under accelerated impressed-voltage corrosion, crystalline coating WP2 ranked #1 with lowest crack width (0.23 mm) and lowest mass loss (37.6 g/y), beating WP3 (0.48 mm, 45.4 g/y).
Durability and Corrosion Performance of Waterproofing Systems and Plant-Resin-Modified Concrete · Queen's University · Master's
Lost to a baseline
The self-repair ability of the passive layer of the TaN-500C coating during dissolution was lower than the uncoated CoCrMo alloy in potentiodynamic polarization testing.
Wear and Corrosion Resistance Improvement of CoCrMo alloy by Tantalum Based Coatings · Saskatchewan · PhD
Lost to a baseline
PU-KV-0.5 exhibited higher ice adhesion than pristine pure PU coatings due to surface defects
Research and development of polyurethane icephobic composite coatings · Nottingham · PhD
Films develop pinholes, voids, agglomerations, and discontinuous coverage during deposition
Low solution viscosity, poor substrate wetting, or excessive shrinkage during drying and curing produce non-uniform coatings with through-thickness defects. Vapor and liquid methods also experience nanoparticle agglomeration or fluid permeation into porous substrates that prevent the formation of continuous barrier layers.
Tried and failed
dielectric passivation using chemical vapor and atomic deposition applied to semiconductor PIN diodes. Outcome: worse than baseline. Reason: dielectric passivation layers caused excessive forward leakage current before diode turn-on
Development, Fabrication and Characterization of III-Nitride Bipolar Devices: Rectifiers, Avalanche Photodiodes, and Laser Diodes · Georgia Tech · PhD
Tried and failed
High-temperature annealing of evaporated dielectric oxide films applied to protective dielectric layer on graphene. Outcome: unstable. Reason: Excessive temperature caused pinhole formation exposing the substrate and causing dielectric gate leakage
The Edge States of Epitaxial Graphene on SiC · Georgia Tech · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Plasma-sprayed deposition was rejected in favor of gel-binder doctor blade application because thin coatings became oversaturated with substrate elements and could not eliminate voids.
MICROSTRUCTURAL EVOLUTION AND REACTION MECHANISMS IN MULTI-PHASE METAL SYSTEMS · Johns Hopkins · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Doctor blading and dip coating were rejected due to phase separation and fluid pooling on substrate caused by low solution viscosity and low solid loadings
Mechanical Properties of Polymer-Clay Nanocomposite Thin Films · Texas State University · Master's
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected doctor-blade slurry coating on carbon paper because pre-punching caused severe edge fracturing and binder/carbon fully permeated the porous substrate rather than forming a discrete top film.
LITHIUM-AIR BATTERY CATHODES: A STUDY ON THE EFFECTS OF FABRICATION METHOD AND ACTIVE MATERIAL PROPERTIES ON BATTERY PEFORMANCE · Cornell · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected dip-coating nylon microgrids in a 1:2 PDMS:toluene dilution because thin-film shrinkage during curing caused defect pinholes exposing the nylon substrate.
Cement-based materials with hydrophobic micro-textured surface · Imperial · Doctorate
Tried and failed
direct chemical vapor deposition of ultrathin metal films applied to sub-10 nm copper film growth. Outcome: unstable. Reason: severe agglomeration leading to discontinuous morphology and high surface roughness
Applications of Various Thin Film Deposition Techniques for Oxide Dielectrics, Metal Interconnects and Polymer Insulators · Harvard · PhD
Tried and failed
spin-coating aqueous dispersion without substrate plasma treatment applied to conductive nanomaterial thin film deposition. Outcome: worse than baseline. Reason: poor substrate wetting causes non-uniform, incomplete film coverage, degrading capacitance and impedance properties
Engineering Novel High-Resolution Bioelectronic Interfaces From Mxene Nanomaterials · Penn · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected pure Cu2O particle coatings without polymer binder because particles shed easily
Development and Mechanism of Action of Antimicrobial Coatings · Virginia Tech · Doctorate
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected physical vapor deposition and colloidal drop-casting for ultra-thin nanoantenna fabrication due to dewetting, grain boundary defects, and agglomeration/wrinkling.
Plasmonic Nanostructures for Photocatalysis: Material, Photonic and Electronic Effects · EPFL · PhD
Tried and failed
cathodic electrodeposition at high current density applied to protective coating deposition on alloy substrates. Outcome: unstable. Reason: High current density caused poor nucleation, film discontinuity, and detachment of deposited cluster layers
Protection of magnesium alloys from corrosion using magnesium rich surfaces. · Cranfield · PhD
Lost to a baseline
Uncrosslinked ptBAEMA produced rougher, discontinuous coatings with poorer adhesion and water resistance than pDEAEMA.
CO2-SWITCHABLE MATERIALS AND THEIR APPLICATIONS FOR AQUEOUS BASED PROTECTIVE COATINGS · Queen's University · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: rejected dip coating for stent multilayer coatings because it is time-consuming and prone to defects such as winding, blocking, and non-uniformity
Sustainable manufacturing of bioresorbable polymer coatings with controlled antifouling and antibacterial properties · University College Dublin · PhD
Tried and failed
reducing selective layer thickness via spin coating applied to thin-film composite separation membranes. Reason: ultra-thin selective layers suffered topcoat defects that compromised selectivity despite higher permeance
Designing Organic Solvent Reverse Osmosis Membranes for The Separation of Liquid Hydrocarbons · Georgia Tech · PhD
Thin coatings experience cracking and mechanical fracture from thermal or residual stresses
High-temperature annealing, baking steps, and post-deposition heating induce thermal stresses that cause films to craze, microcrack, and flake. Coatings also fracture mechanically when underlying materials undergo volume expansion, mechanical deflection, or welding operations.
Tried and failed
spot welding thin metal foil to sputtered thin-film applied to electrical contacts on metallised substrates. Reason: welding process cleaved through the thin sputtered coating causing mechanical and electrical failure
Conceptualization, Thermodynamics, Kinetics, and Prototyping of Continuous Electrochemical Refrigeration · Georgia Tech · PhD
Tried and failed
electroplating conductive coatings on flexible polymer substrates applied to flexible additively manufactured electrical interconnects. Reason: mechanical deflection fractured the thin electroplated layer, causing conductivity loss and catastrophic Joule heating failure
Multi-axis and multi-material additive manufacturing of electrical traces · Imperial · PhD
Tried and failed
PECVD oxide coating applied to reflowed photoresist structures. Outcome: unstable. Reason: produced non-uniform shell thickness, surface roughness bumps, and cracked upon thermal heating
Sub-Micron Self-Aligned Chiplet-Based Optical Fiber-to-Chip Interconnects for 2.5D Heterogeneous Integration · Georgia Tech · PhD
Tried and failed
atomic layer deposition of protective oxide coating applied to precursors subject to volume-expanding reactions. Outcome: worse than baseline. Reason: volume expansion during chemical conversion cracked the coating, preventing defect-free passivation
IMPROVING ELECTROCHEMICAL PERFROMANCE OF IRON TRIFLUORIDE (FeF3) IN SODIUM-ION BATTERIES · Georgia Tech · PhD
Tried and failed
single dip-coating of porous template applied to porous elastomeric conductive nanocomposites. Outcome: worse than baseline. Reason: produced non-uniform, thin structural ligaments prone to mechanical fracture under tensile strain
Hybrid Response Pressure Sensors as an Electronic Skin for Bio- Sensing and Soft Robotics · UT Austin · PhD
Tried and failed
spin-coating and physical vapor deposition for planarisation applied to high-aspect-ratio nanotrenches. Outcome: unstable. Reason: thermal stress-induced cracking during baking, and incomplete filling caused by premature overhang closure
MEMS-based Tunable Metasurface for Reflective Display Applications · EPFL · PhD
Tried and failed
Sol-gel coating on PDMS surfaces applied to preventing hydrophobic dye absorption and evaporation. Reason: Microcracks in the coating allowed dye absorption and caused droplet evaporation over 24 hours
Screening of algal cells using microdroplet technology · Cambridge · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected palladium coating on membrane surfaces to prevent surface effects, because coatings crack during plastic deformation in mechanical testing and create localized film failures/dissolution.
The relative susceptibility of ferrous alloys to hydrogen embrittlement determined by effective electrolytic hydrogen pressure measurement · Virginia Tech · Master's
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected thick PVD coatings (1000 nm) in favor of thin (50-100 nm) films to avoid grain crystallization, cracking, and delamination.
Tried and failed
high-temperature post-deposition annealing applied to mixed metal-oxide optical thin-film coatings. Outcome: unstable. Reason: developed severe cracking and flaking at elevated temperatures due to thermal stress or crystallization
Coating Thermal Noise in Gravitational-Wave Detectors · MIT · PhD
Tried and failed
thermal baking of dielectric coated vacuum viewports applied to ultra-high vacuum optical viewports. Reason: High-temperature baking caused thermal stress that crazed the dielectric HR coating, ruining optical performance.
Quantum Gas Microscopy of Bosonic Correlations in the Continuum · MIT · PhD
High processing temperatures trigger volatile constituent evaporation and thermal decomposition
Operating at elevated deposition or annealing temperatures causes volatile elements and precursor materials to evaporate or decompose parasitically. These thermal effects lead to off-stoichiometric films, high defect densities, carbon contamination, and destruction of delicate amorphous or dye phases.
Tried and failed
chemical vapor deposition without reducing co-reactant applied to silver thin film deposition. Outcome: worse than baseline. Reason: parasitic thermal precursor decomposition caused massive carbon contamination and loss of electrical conductivity
Applications of Various Thin Film Deposition Techniques for Oxide Dielectrics, Metal Interconnects and Polymer Insulators · Harvard · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected LPCVD of graphene on 700 nm Cu(111)/sapphire due to severe Cu evaporation and high batch-to-batch variability, adopting APCVD instead.
Synthesis and Applications of Large-Area Monolayer Graphene · MIT · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected thermal evaporation of nickel on PMMA due to insoluble polymer-metal composite residue formation during release, switching to sputter deposition.
Investigations into Quasi-Two-Dimensional Active Matter Systems using Colloidal Probes · Johns Hopkins · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected thermal evaporation deposition in favor of electrospray deposition due to dye fragility, non-volatility, and thermal lability
Molecular adsorption and charge transfer dynamics at Dye−TiO 2 interfaces: an XPS, NEXAFS, and XSW study · Nottingham · PhD
Tried and failed
thermal diffusion doping applied to semiconductor photocatalyst preparation. Outcome: worse than baseline. Reason: induced complete rutile phase transformation and dopant evaporation during high-temperature processing
Engineered Sn doped TiO2 bifunctional catalyst for improved hetero-photocatalytic oxidation of arsenite in water · Imperial · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected experiments at 90 °C due to excessive solution evaporation loss
Biological and Chemical Oxidation of Sulfidic Minerals at Alkaline pH · Queen's University · Master's
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected thermal evaporation for Sb2S3 film growth because it causes volatility-driven composition shifts, poor crystallinity, and high defect-related loss.
ADAPTIVE PHASE-CHANGE META-OPTICS: FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION FOR EMISSIVE CONTRAST AND SPECTRAL FILTERING · Johns Hopkins · PhD
Tried and failed
direct high-temperature physical vapor deposition without annealing applied to intermetallic thin films with volatile components. Reason: growth temperature above constituent melting point caused discontinuous morphology while attempting to maintain crystallinity
Engineering topology and correlation in epitaxial thin film kagome metals · MIT · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected pure pyrene coatings via vacuum evaporation due to pyrene's high vapour pressure causing coating degradation in vacuum, opting instead for pyrene-doped polystyrene.
Neck Alpha Background Rejection in DEAP-3600 using Pyrene and the Search for Superheavy Dark Matter · Carleton University · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Slurry dip-coating, APS, CVD, EB-PVD, and solid-state synthesis rejected because high-temperature processing destroys the initial amorphous state required for wide-range sensing
Development of high temperature Thermal History Paints for reliable off-line measurements · Imperial · PhD
Reactive deposition precursors and chemical environments etch or degrade underlying substrates
Precursor chemicals, excess process gases like hydrogen, and unmitigated galvanic interactions attack and degrade underlying sensitive layers during coating growth. In other cases, chemical exposure dissolves substrate materials or perturbs delicate perovskite and surfactant layers.
Tried and failed
thin metal protective coating during thermal oxidation applied to graphene electrode passivation. Outcome: worse than baseline. Reason: insufficient oxidation barrier caused severe resistance degradation from graphene etching or defect formation
Fabrication of bulk acoustic wave resonators with ultra-thin graphene electrodes for microwave applications · Imperial · PhD
Tried and failed
chemical vapor deposition with high hydrogen ratio applied to direct graphene growth on sapphire. Reason: excess hydrogen rapidly etched the film rather than allowing continuous layer formation
Characterization of the normal and shear interactions between bilayer graphene and sapphire following a novel CVD growth process · UT Austin · PhD
Tried and failed
chemical vapor deposition without electric field bias applied to nanotube growth on carbon fibers. Reason: insufficient potential difference allowed catalyst etching of the substrate leading to pitting and sporadic growth
Continuous production of carbon nanotube-grafted fibres: a route to manufacture hierarchical composites · Imperial · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected pure graphene coatings via CVD due to unavoidable imperfections causing microgalvanic corrosion and detachment from corrosion products.
Use of complementary testing technology for the evaluation of the characteristics of different systems · TU Wien · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected depositing Al directly on graphene/Cu before delamination because Al oxidized and etched away before graphene delaminated, switching to transferring graphene first before Al evaporation.
Synthesis and Applications of Large-Area Monolayer Graphene · MIT · PhD
Tried and failed
pulsed chemical vapor deposition of metal contacts applied to hybrid perovskite thin-film solar cells. Outcome: unstable. Reason: Metal precursor directly degraded the underlying perovskite layer, forming lead iodide.
Chemical Vapor Deposition of the Transparent p-Type Semiconductor Cuprous Iodide for Application in Flexible Thin-Film Photovoltaics · Harvard · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected purely solution-processed spin-coating for the rubrene:DBP layer on perovskite, replacing it with thermal evaporation to prevent perturbation of the perovskite surface.
Strategies for High-Performance Solid-State Photon Upconversion · MIT · PhD
Tried and failed
thick PDMS non-stick vat coating applied to photopolymer vat for projection lithography. Outcome: unstable. Reason: developed optical haziness and degradation after a single short print exposure
Physicochemical and nanomechanical behaviour of 3d printed pegda hydrogel structures for tissue engineering applications · Cranfield · PhD
Tried and failed
ultrathin polymer coating via chemical vapor deposition applied to nanoporous aluminum oxide in alkaline conditions. Outcome: unstable. Reason: strong alkaline solution degraded and dissolved the underlying porous metal oxide despite the thin polymer coating
NONTHERMAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL APPROACHES FOR COMBATING PATHOGENIC BACTERIA IN FOOD PROCESSING AND HANDLING, AND HEALTHCARE ENVIRONMENTS · Cornell · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected standard liquid-phase dye dipping for nonwoven imaging because liquid disrupts and leaches non-permanent topical surfactant coatings, switching to vapour-phase sublimation staining.
Surfactant migration on polymeric substrates · Imperial · PhD
Sputter deposition causes conformal sidewall coverage and residues that prevent clean lift-off
Conformal sputter coating coats vertical sidewalls and prevents clean solvent lift-off of patterned metallic contacts. Metallic discharge layers also leave behind residues that prove difficult to remove and risk optical degradation.
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected sputter deposition for metal contact patterning because high sidewall coverage prevented clean lift-off, selecting e-beam evaporation instead.
Exploring 2D Materials for Energy-Efficient Nanoelectronic Devices · University at Buffalo · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected using sputtering (PVD-05) for metal liftoff deposition in favor of E-beam evaporation (PVD-04) to avoid continuous conformal films that prevent clean liftoff.
Controlled deposition of cargo-carrying colloids from dispersed fluid to solid surfaces · Penn · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected metallic sputter-coating for CNF SEM sample preparation because it obscured fine nanoscale particles and caused inconsistent droplet wetting.
Dewatering of Cellulose Nanomaterials using Ultrasound · Georgia Tech · PhD
Considered and rejected
Considered and rejected: Rejected metallic conductive discharge coatings (Au, Al, Cu) for EBL charging due to difficult removal and residual optical degradation risk, selecting DisCharge H2O polymer instead.
Concentric Microresonators Design For Dispersion Engineering and Scalable Electron-Beam Lithography for Si and SiN Photonic Platforms · Texas Tech · PhD
Left open by the authors
Problems the authors named and did not get to.
Left open
Optimize ALD coating thickness and alternative chemistries (HfO2, SiO2, ZrO2, TiO2, nitrides) on battery electrodes to improve solid electrolyte wetting. Blocker: Requires atomic layer deposition (ALD) equipment, specialized battery materials, and wet-lab physical testing facilities.
Low melting point solid electrolytes for scalable manufacturing of all-solid-state li-ion batteries · Georgia Tech · PhD
Left open
Optimize the thickness and chemistry of ALD alumina coatings on active material particles, or develop alternative sol-gel coating processes. Blocker: Requires chemical synthesis, atomic layer deposition (ALD) equipment, and experimental wet-lab battery testing facilities.
Borohydride-based solid electrolytes and polymer composite separators for lithium-ion batteries · Georgia Tech · PhD
Left open
Fabricate a thin, dense, crack-free, stoichiometric protective coating layer on proton-conducting electrolyte substrates to prevent degradation from H2O and CO2. Blocker: Requires a physical materials synthesis/deposition wet lab and solid oxide cell fabrication equipment.
Development of Proton-Conducting Electrolytes with Enhanced Performance and Stability for Reversible Solid Oxide Cells · Georgia Tech · PhD
Left open
Develop non-vacuum deposition techniques like dip or suspension coating for sub-micron bilayer electrolyte protection in solid oxide cells. Blocker: Requires a physical materials synthesis and electrochemical wet laboratory.
Enhancing the Stability and Performance of Solid Oxide Cells by Tailoring Surfaces and Interfaces through Surface Modification · Georgia Tech · PhD
Left open
Engineer treated copper substrates to enhance bulk diffusion paths and increase the area coverage of bilayer graphene growth. Blocker: Requires a physical materials lab, copper pre-treatment, and chemical vapor deposition apparatus.
Graphene-metal interactions beyond Van der Waals forces · MIT · PhD
Left open
Develop chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth for millimeter-scale uniform AB and ABC stacked graphene. Blocker: Requires a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) synthesis laboratory and materials characterization equipment.
Visible and Infrared Light Detection Using 2D Materials · MIT · PhD
Left open
Develop high-adhesion water-soluble binders for spray-coated Taylor-Couette graphene on metal substrates for thermal dissipation. Blocker: Requires chemical synthesis, wet lab formulation, and physical spray-coating adhesion testing
TAILORING THE ASSEMBLY OF HIGH-RATE CAPABLE AND COST- EFFECTIVE SILICON GRAPHENE HYBRID ANODES FOR LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES · Cornell · PhD
Left open
Control the density and spatial distribution of water-permeable defects in monolayer graphene for molecular-selective membranes. Blocker: Requires chemical vapor deposition apparatus and wet lab facilities to fabricate and characterize defective graphene membranes
Synthesis and Applications of Large-Area Monolayer Graphene · MIT · PhD
Left open
Optimize chemical vapor deposition growth parameters to synthesize multilayer graphene with controlled layer count, stacking order, and rotational alignment. Blocker: Requires chemical vapor deposition furnace and physical materials characterization equipment.
Synthesis and Applications of Large-Area Monolayer Graphene · MIT · PhD
Who has worked on this
Authors of the public theses cited on this page, most-cited first.
- Zhien (Abigail) Wang · MIT · PhD · 2025
Synthesis and Applications of Large-Area Monolayer Graphene - Salwa AlAchkar · Dalhousie · Master's · 2024
Comparative Study Between Monolayered and Multilayered Electroless NI-CO-P-PTFE Coatings on Mild Carbon Steel - Mengjiao Zhai · Imperial · PhD · 2025
Framework-based nanofiltration membranes for liquid separation - Zhiyu Xu · Georgia Tech · PhD · 2024
Development, Fabrication and Characterization of III-Nitride Bipolar Devices: Rectifiers, Avalanche Photodiodes, and Laser Diodes - Eliza Kate Spear · Harvard · PhD · 2024
Chemical Vapor Deposition of the Transparent p-Type Semiconductor Cuprous Iodide for Application in Flexible Thin-Film Photovoltaics - Xian Gong · Harvard · PhD · 2022
Applications of Various Thin Film Deposition Techniques for Oxide Dielectrics, Metal Interconnects and Polymer Insulators - Samuel P. Rice · Naval Postgraduate School · Master's · 2022
ENHANCING MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF COLD-SPRAYED ALUMINUM COATINGS USING GRAPHENE-NANOPLATELET AND MICRO-BORON-CARBIDE REINFORCEMENTS - Yading Wang · Cranfield · PhD · 2021
Protection of magnesium alloys from corrosion using magnesium rich surfaces. - Hari Chandra Satyal · Queen's University · Master's · 2026
Durability and Corrosion Performance of Waterproofing Systems and Plant-Resin-Modified Concrete - Mashael Alotaibi · Nottingham · PhD · 2026
Molecular adsorption and charge transfer dynamics at Dye−TiO 2 interfaces: an XPS, NEXAFS, and XSW study - Gabriella M Hunt · Johns Hopkins · PhD · 2026
ADAPTIVE PHASE-CHANGE META-OPTICS: FUNCTIONAL INTEGRATION FOR EMISSIVE CONTRAST AND SPECTRAL FILTERING - Mehedi Hasan · Texas Tech · PhD · 2026
Concentric Microresonators Design For Dispersion Engineering and Scalable Electron-Beam Lithography for Si and SiN Photonic Platforms
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