Preface

Thin films are thin material layers ranging from fractions of a nanometer to several micrometers in thickness. The properties of material differ significantly when analyzed in the form of thin films. Thin film technologies make use of the fact that the properties can be controlled by the thickness parameter. Thin films are formed by deposition generally, using chemical or physical methods. Thin films, both crystalline and amorphous, have enormous importance in the age of high technology. Thin film technology is a relatively new and growing field in the physical and chemical sciences, which is a confluence of materials science, applied chemistry, applied physics, surface science, and others.

The properties of thin films are extremely sensitive to the method of preparation. Several techniques have been developed and are discussed in this book.

## **Section I: Properties and Applications**

Chapter 1, "Thin Films/Properties and Applications" by Edwin Acosta, covers the fundamentals of thin film technology, including deposition techniques, structure and morphology, film properties, characterization techniques, and applications.
