"Coatings play a vital role in numerous industries, providing protection, enhancing performance, and imparting desired functionalities to various surfaces. Functional coatings find extensive applications in sectors such as automotive, aerospace, electronics, healthcare, energy, and consumer goods. These coatings provide corrosion resistance, fire retardancy, and antimicrobial properties and offer additional benefits like superhydrophobicity, self-cleaning properties, optical enhancements, and controlled drug release. In the automotive industry, functional coatings are used to improve vehicles' durability and aesthetic appeal while providing protection against environmental factors. In the healthcare sector, biomedical coatings enhance the biocompatibility of medical devices and implants, reducing the risk of infections and improving patient outcomes. Energy storage coatings are crucial for the efficient performance and longevity of batteries and other energy storage systems, contributing to the growth of renewable energy technologies. With the increasing focus on sustainability and eco-friendly solutions, there is a growing demand for green coatings that minimize environmental impact. Additionally, the development of advanced characterization techniques allows for precise evaluation and optimization of functional coatings, leading to improved performance and cost-effectiveness. The demand for coatings with enhanced functionalities, such as self-healing properties or energy-efficient properties, is also expected to increase."-- Provided by publisher.