https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200326124138.htm > Porous or dense, columns or fibres > During the manufacture of thin films, numerous control variables determine the condition of the surface and, consequently, its properties. Relevant factors include the composition of the layer as well as process conditions during its formation, such as temperature. All these elements put together result in the creation of either a porous or a dense layer during the coating process, with atoms combining to form columns or fibres. "In order to find the optimal parameters for an application, it used to be necessary to conduct countless experiments under different conditions and with different compositions; this is an incredibly complex process," explains Professor Alfred Ludwig, Head of the Materials Discovery and Interfaces Team.