A simpler way to produce high-performance alloy films successful development of a novel film formation technique using lasers

A collaborative research team led by Professor Yoji Miyajima and Professor Kazuhiro Ishikawa of the School of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Science and Engineering, Kanazawa University; Hiroki Minowa and Daisuke Tanada (then Master’s students in the Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology); Professor Pinaki Prasad Bhattacharjeek of the Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad; and Dr. Stephen M. Lyth of the University of Strathclyde in the UK, has developed a novel method for forming high-performance high-entropy alloy (HEA) films on various surfaces without using expensive alloy targets. This was achieved using a proprietary rotating target composed of multiple pure metal segments and pulsed laser deposition (PLD) technology (*1).

This method uniquely enables not only the deposition of metal atoms onto the substrate surface through laser irradiation but also their implantation into the subsurface, forming robust films that integrate with the substrate material.

Traditionally, producing HEA films requires expensive pre-made alloy targets. In contrast, the new method uses inexpensive pure metals, significantly reducing costs. The team also demonstrated precise control of film thickness and depth by adjusting the pressure during deposition.

These findings pave the way for practical, low-cost, and simple methods to impart advanced functionalities—such as heat resistance, corrosion resistance, and gas barrier properties—to various industrial products. Applications are expected in aerospace, automotive, energy, and medical device sectors.

This research was published online in Optics & Laser Technology on June 17, 2025, and is scheduled for print publication in December 2025.

【Glossary】

*1: Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD)
A technique that uses intense pulsed laser light in a vacuum to ablate target material into a plasma, which then deposits onto an opposing substrate to form a thin film.

【Funding】
This research was supported by: Suzuki Foundation (FY2022 Scientific Research Grant), Amada Foundation (General Research Grant in Laser Processing: AF-2021225-B3), JSPS Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (19H05168), The Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation (Ref: 14493/15338), JSPS Short-Term Fellowship Program, JICA FRIENDSHIP2.0 Program.