The substrate bias voltage (U_B) plays an important role in the coating formation processes using the Physical Vapor Deposition method and affects the morphology of the coatings as well as their physical properties, microhardness, elastic modulus, stresses, as well as the structure and phase composition, microstructure or density. To characterize ZrN coatings formed by magnetron sputtering at substrate bias voltages from –10 V to –100 V, X-ray diffraction (phase composition), scanning electron- and atomic force microscopy (for surface morphology and distribution of macroparticles on the coating surface, tribological properties), and nanoindentation (for microhardness and elastic modulus) were used in the study. With the increase in the negative substrate bias voltage, an increase in the intensity of the ZrN (200), (220) and (222) diffraction lines was observed relative to the ZrN (111) line. The roughness of the coatings decreased with the increase in the negative substrate bias voltage. The highest microhardness, 30.6 GPa, was measured for coatings formed at U_B = –50 V. The coating deposited at –100 V showed low wear resistance (due to the low H/E coefficient, showing low elastic behavior of the coating under load). Multi-cycle tribotests were additionally performed on the coating that were deposited at –10 V and showed high wear resistance , with changes in speed (1.99–8.00 μm/s), number of cycles (from 10 to 50) and load (from 8 to 27 μN). The obtained results can be used in developing wear-resistant coatings for friction units of various devices in mechanical engineering and instrument making, power engineering, and transport.

The mechanical properties of cells, determined mainly by the properties and structure of the cytoskeleton, are heterogeneous at the micro- and nanoscale. The spatial distribution of mechanical parameters such as elastic modulus and adhesion force over the surface of fibroblasts characterizes their mechanical phenotype. By mapping mechanical properties using the Force Volume mode of atomic force microscopy and using statistical analysis methods (modeling parameter distributions with a two-component Gaussian mixture and clustering data), patterns of changes in the spatial distribution of the mechanical properties of the fibroblast surface of primary cultures isolated from the lungs of non-irradiated and irradiated 14-month-old Wistar rats and a 3-week post-radiation period were established. After irradiation, the proportion of surface areas with increased elastic properties and reduced adhesive properties corresponding to the plasmalemma areas above the structures of stress fibers changes. The findings indicate that irradiation at both low (0.1 Gy) and high (1 and 15 Gy) doses induces alterations in the mechanical phenotype of fibroblasts during the early late post-radiation period. These characteristic modifications in fibroblast mechanics may represent early biomarkers of radiation-induced complications, such as radiation fibrosis.

Cs₃(HSO₄)₂(H₂PO₄) and Cs₄(HSO₄)₃(H₂PO₄) crystals are being studied in connection with the prospects of their use as materials for electrochemical devices, including fuel cells, providing direct conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy in the temperature range of 300–500 K. The paper demonstrates the capabilities of atomic force microscopy (AFM) for the diagnosis of two similar in composition isostructural compounds with superprotonic conductivity. Measurements of local current–voltage characteristic (CVC) and surface potential of crystals under atmospheric conditions with controlled parameters were performed using conductive AFM (C-AFM) and Kelvin scanning microscopy (KPFM). With an increase in temperature, an increase in conductivity was detected and the presence of a transition to the superprotonic phase was confirmed. The current value increases by 1.5–2 orders of magnitude at 413 K relative to the low-temperature state for both samples. As the phase transition temperature approaches, the continuity of the surface layers of crystals is disrupted and a defective block structure is formed. The surface is characterized by a uniform distribution of positive electrostatic potential at the micro and nanoscales and is sufficiently resistant to the effects of the surrounding air atmosphere. In interpreting the topographic and electrical features of the monoclinic phases before and after exposure to temperature, neutronography data on the atomic structure and nature of hydrogen bonds are used.

Atomic force microscopy and infrared spectroscopy were used to investigate the morphology and molecular structure of nanoscale coatings deposited from volatile products of electron-beam dispersion (EBD) of polyethylene (PE) and its mixture with aluminum chloride, both with and without laser assistance. The coatings were deposited onto silicon substrates modified to vary surface energy. It was found that in the case of single-component PE targets, decreasing surface energy leads to a monotonic reduction in surface roughness and average grain size, as well as an increase in the fractal dimension of structural formations. Coatings obtained from the dispersion products of PE + AlCl₃ mixtures exhibit significantly lower roughness and smaller grain volumes compared to those formed from single-component targets. However, their structural and morphological parameters do not correlate with the substrate’s surface energy. Laser stimulation during electron-beam dispersion has a minor effect on the molecular structure of the coatings. Using of these layers due to their antifriction and hydrophobic properties is promising in microelectronics and microfluidics devices.

Microarc oxidation allows to obtain protective coatings on the surface of aluminum alloys, including those for tribotechnical purposes. The disadvantage is a relatively high friction coefficient, as well as low resistance to shear deformation. Improving the properties of the coatings is possible through their modification by adding various additives to the electrolyte in order to increase the wear resistance of the coatings and reduce sliding friction with various materials. MAO coatings created on a commercial Al-Cu-Mg aluminium alloy were studied; a polymer modifier (finely dispersed fluoroplastic) was added to the base electrolyte in combination with Sintanol from 0.5 to 6 g/l, a total of five coatings. Friction tests were performed on tribotester MFT-5000 (Rtec, USA) in the mode of unidirectional sliding of a silicon carbide ball (diameter 10 mm) on the surface of samples in accordance with the ASTM G99 standard. Optical images of friction tracks and contact spots of the counter-body were obtained on the optical profilometer S neox 3D (Sensofar-Tech, Spain). It was found that the linear wear of the counter-body is no more than 10 μm. The values of the friction coefficient (from 0.4 to 0.6) are on average less than for the ceramic-to-ceramic contact, which is due to the presence of an antifriction modifier. The presence of a modifier in the electrolyte contributes to an increase in the porosity of the ceramic coating. The coating is wear-resistant (wear at the level of roughness) at low concentrations of the modifier. Thus, there is an optimal amount of modifier for these frictional contact conditions, which ensures a decrease in friction, but does not critically increase the porosity of the coating.

The effect of the substrate nature on the structure and properties of copolyurethaneimide (coPUI) films has been studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM), nanoindentation, and strain-strength testing. It was found that the morphology of the surface of the films of coPUI (R-2300TDI-R)(SODp) is more homogeneous than coPUI (R-AltTDI-R)(SODp). The films are characterized by extremely low rigidity (elastic modulus – 3.6–3.7 MPa, strength – below 4 MPa). Using the nanoindentation method, it was found that the first coPUI has two phases simultaneously – one conventionally called “amorphous” (E = 30–40 MPa), and the second conventionally called “partially ordered” (E = 10–25 GPa). Microhardness for the coPUI (R-2300TDI-R)SODp is in the range from 2 to 4 MPa. Using AFM it was determined that the highest value of the adhesion force and, accordingly, the specific surface energy is observed in coPUI (R-2300TDI-R)(SODp). Mechanical tests were carried out and the deformation curves of the coPUI films deposited on different substrates were obtained. It is shown that the morphology and degree of surface roughness of films that were in contact with the substrate during the preparation process significantly depend on the nature of the substrate. The synthesized materials can be used in creation of antifriction coatings, membranes for the first-generation separation of aromatic hydrocarbons from liquid mixtures of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, which is important for petrochemical technology; as membranes for separating nitrogen/carbon dioxide gas mixtures in order to capture carbon dioxide from flue gases of thermal power plants; structural thermoplastics such as polyurethanes for 3D printing, as well as substrates with controlled adhesion to hold microobjects.

Mechanical and mathematical models for calculating the physical and mechanical properties of single- and multilayer materials of nanometer thickness, selecting the contact point taking into account the type of interaction of the cantilever with the surface of the material, their advantages and disadvantages are presented. The possibility of calculating the thickness of multilayer materials by solving the inverse problem is shown. The structure and local physical and mechanical properties of Langmuir–Blodgett films based on poly(methyl methacrylate) and composite films containing 41.7; 83.3; 167; 333 mol of SiO₂ nanoparticles per 1 mol of polymer were analyzed using atomic force microscopy. The AFM1 program has been developed for analyzing static force spectroscopy data, which implements the selection of the contact point according to the Johnson–Kendall–Roberts (JKR) model, and the calculation of the elastic modulus values according to the Hertz, JKR, Hsueh–Miranda, Makushkin, and Menčik models. A comparison of the calculated values of the elastic modulus and coating thickness was carried out using the above models. It was found that the film thickness values calculated using the Makushkin model correlate with the experimental data obtained by creating an artificial defect in the film. The results obtained are relevant for diagnostics and analysis of the properties of new functional nanomaterials.