Surface Coating Technologies: From Deposition Methods to Engineering Applications

Coating technologies are essential for improving material surface properties while preserving bulk performance. They are widely used to enhance wear resistance, corrosion protection, thermal stability, biocompatibility, and functional behavior in aerospace, automotive, biomedical, electronics, and energy applications. Together with conventional electrochemical methods, the field has advanced to sophisticated techniques such as physical vapor deposition (PVD), laser cladding, chemical vapor deposition (CVD), atomic layer deposition (ALD), and other precision surface modification processes, enabling greater control over coating composition, thickness, microstructure, and adhesion. Recent progress in materials science, nanotechnology, and process engineering has led to multifunctional coatings with enhanced mechanical, thermal, chemical, and biological properties. At the same time, growing sustainability demands have encouraged the development of coating systems with improved durability, reduced environmental impact, and greater process efficiency. This review summarizes recent advances in coating technologies, focusing on major deposition methods (such as PVD, CVD, laser cladding, and electrodeposition), coating materials, and applications for high-performance and sustainable material systems.