Thin Films and Surfaces Group

This is an IOP special interest group, which is a community of IOP members focused on a particular discipline, application or area of interest.

Special interest groups allow members to connect and share knowledge and ideas. The IOP funds groups to deliver a range of activities including events, prizes and bursaries. All of our groups are driven by members.

Newsletter

About the group

The study of properties of thin films, surfaces and interfaces is an important area of physics. There is a wide range of activity and exciting research.

As a special interest, member-driven group, we stimulate and support research. We disseminate information and organise meetings and conferences where academic and industrial scientists can discuss the most recent advances.

Our fields of interest include:

electronic, vibrational and structural aspects of surfaces, as well as surfaces covered with thin adlayers, and nanostructured surfaces
preparation and growth of thin films and multilayers, as well as nanostructuring methods, and the study of their structural, physical and chemical properties
development and evaluation of new techniques, and the extension of existing ones, for the characterisation of thin films and surfaces
characterisation of surfaces and interfaces of materials of technological interest by a wide variety of physical and chemical techniques
reactions at surfaces, including molecule surface interactions, adsorption/desorption phenomena, surface dynamics and chemical reactions

What the group does

The group organises a major interdisciplinary conference on surfaces every two years and supports other conferences on thin films.

We arrange shorter meetings for specialist interests. These are often organised as joint meetings when the subjects overlap with other groups.

We actively support education in the area of surface science and thin films and regularly run summer schools in the area. We held events in Cambridge in 2016 and 2018.

We look to liaise closely with similar specialist groups in other institutes and societies and to host joint meetings.

Joining an IOP special interest group

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Group prizes

Woodruff Thesis Prize

This annual prize is for the best PhD thesis by a student member of the group. It was established to encourage and recognise high-quality research and scientific writing in the field of thin films and surface science.

Apply now and find out more about the Woodruff Thesis Prize, including previous winners.

TFSG Oral Prize

This is an annual award for best PhD oral presentation in recognition of outstanding research contribution and presentation skills in the field of thin films and/or surface science. The award is presented annually at an IOP conference organised by the group. All PhD students presenting are automatically considered for the award.

TFSG Poster Prize

This is an annual prize for best PhD poster in recognition of outstanding research contribution in the field of thin films and/or surface science. The award is presented annually at an IOP conference organised by the group. All PhD students presenting are automatically considered for the award.

Group events

Find events for the Thin Films and Surfaces Group

Committee and contacts

Chair	Dr Karen Syres, MInstP
Secretary	Dr Theodoros Papadopoulos, MInstP
Treasurer	Dr Kieran Cheetham, CPhys FInstP
Ordinary Member	Mr Joshua Ellingford, MInstP
Ordinary Member	Dr Stefania Moro, MInstP
Ordinary Member	Dr Andrew Pratt, MInstP
Ordinary Member	Dr Steven Schofield, MInstP
Ordinary Member	Dr Steven Stanley, CPhys MInstP
Ordinary Member	Dr Matthijs Van Spronsen, MInstP
Ordinary Member	Dr David Ward, MInstP
Ordinary Member	Dr Glen West, MInstP
Ordinary Member	Dr Sebastian Wood, CPhys MInstP

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @ioptfsg