THIN FILM CENTRE

University of the West of Scotland
Thin Film Centre
High Street
Paisley
PA1 2BE
+44 (0)141 848 3610 frank.placido@uws.ac.uk


	Telephone:	+44 (0)141 848 3610
	Fax:	+44 (0)141 848 3627
	Email:	frank.placido@uws.ac.uk
	Position:	Director

Interests

Thin film deposition techniques
Thin film characterisation
Development of commercial thin-film processes
Design of Optical Filters
Coatings for display applications
Barrier coatings
Coatings on polymer films
Hard coatings
Applications of thin films.

Brief work history

BSc (Chemical Physics) Edinburgh University

PhD (Physics) Edinburgh University

My background is mostly in applied areas of physics, including FTIR studies of the dielectric response of alkali halide thin films/ Mossbauer effect studies of ferroelectrics/Thermoluminescence Dating of archaeological artefacts/ testing for fire-damage in concrete/Thermal properties of solids.

In the last fifteen years or so my interests have returned to thin films. Of particular interest has been the design and production of optical filters, including graded-index thin films (rugates).

Recent publications:

Refereed Journal Papers

1. J. Bertinshaw, L. Kirkup, M. Phillips, F. Placido, “A system for supplying constant electrical power for postprocessing tin-doped indium oxide films” Rev. Sci. Insts. 79, 076105-1,3 (2008)

2. M. H. Asghar, M. Shoaib, S. Naseem, F. Placido.” Study of thin film structure based on MgF2,CeO2 and Al2O3 layers for optical applications” Int. J. Mats. Res. 99, 322-328 (2008)

3. O. Duyar, F. Placido, H.Z. Durusoy, “Optimization of TiO2 films prepared by reactive electron beam evaporation of Ti3O5” J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 41, , (2008)

4. F. Placido “All in the detail”, Materials World, 15, 30-31, (2007)

5. O. Ademosu, A.A. Ogwu, J. Mclean, F. Placido “The effect of shape and surface modification on the corrosion of biomedical nitinol alloy wires exposed to saline solution” Surface Engineered Surgical Tools and Medical Devices, 65-78, (2007)

6. M. H. Asghar, F. Placido & S. Naseem. “Complex optical filters prepared by reactive evaporation.” Opt. Eng. 46 023802 (2007).

7. M. H. Asghar, F. Placido & S. Naseem.”Reactively evaporated multilayer antireflection coatings for Ge optical window”. J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 40, 2065-2070, (2007)

8. F. Placido, D. Gibson, E. Waddell, E. Crossan, “Characterisation of Optical Thin Films obtained by Plasma Ion Assisted Deposition” , Advances in Thin-Film Coatings for Optical Applications lll, Proc of SPIE 6286, 628602-1,628602-6, (2006)

9. M. H. Asghar, F. Placido & S. Naseem. “Characterization of Ta2O5 thin films prepared by reactive evaporation. Eur. Phys. J. Appl. Phys. 10.1051/epjap:2006113 (2006).

10. Li-Jian Meng, V. Teixeira, H.N. Cui, Frank Placido, Z. Xu and M. P. dos Santos, “A study of the optical properties of titanium oxide films prepared by dc reactive magnetron sputtering”, Appl. Surf. Sci 252, p7970-7974, (2006)

11. M. H. Asghar, F. Placido & S. Naseem, “Characterization of reactively evaporated TiO₂thin films as high and medium index layers for optical applications”, Eur. Phys. J. Appl. Phys. 35 177 (2006).

12. D. Lusk and F. Placido. “Omnidirectional mirror coating for infrared aplications”, Thin Solid Films, 492, 226-231, (2005)

13. A.A.Ogwu, E. Bouquerel, O. Ademosu, S. Moh, E. Crossan and F.Placido, “The influence of rf power and oxygen flow rate during deposition on the optical transmittance of copper oxide thin films prepared by reactive magnetron sputtering”. Journal of Physics D: Applied physics 38, 266-271, (2005)

14. A.A. Ogwu, E. Bouquerel, O. Ademosu, S. Moh, E. Crossan and F. Placido “An Extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek Theory Approach to Determining the Surface Energy of Copper Oxide Thin Films prepared by Reactive Magnetron Sputtering”, Met. And Mat. Trans. A, 36A, 2435-2439, (2005)

15. D. Lusk and F. Placido. “Omnidirectional mirror coating for infrared aplications”, Thin Solid Films, 492, 226-231, (2005)

16. A.A. Ogwu, T. Hellwig, D. Haddow, S. Doherty, F. Placido, K. Moellman, “Electrochemical investigation of the stability and corrosion resistance of Boron Phosphide films prepared by PECVD”, Windows and Domes Technologies iX, Ed Tustison R.W., SPIE Vol 5786, p130-136, (2005)

17. A.A. Ogwu, T. Hellwig, D. Haddow, S. Doherty, F. Placido, K. Moellman, “Surface characterization and surface energy measurements on Boron Phosphide films prepared by PECVD, Windows and Domes Technologies iX, Ed Tustison R.W., SPIE Vol 5786, p365-372, (2005)

Conference Papers

1. O. Duyar, F. Placido, and H.Z. Durasoy, “Optimization of TiO₂ films prepared by reactive electron beam evaporation of Ti₃O₅”, Optical Interference Coatings, Tucson, USA, June (2007)

2. F. Placido, D. Gibson, E. Waddell, E. Crossan, “Characterisation of Optical Thin Films obtained by Plasma Ion Assisted Deposition” , SPIE Photonics Conf 6286, San Diego, USA, Aug (2006)

3. F. Placido, M Hodgson, R. Eveson, W. Macdonald, “Tailored polyester films for flexible displays” SVC 49^th Annual Technical Conference, Wahington DC, USA, April, (2006)

4. F. Placido “Thin Films for Flexible Displays”, Invited Paper, International Conference on Surfaces, Coatings and Nanostructured Materials, nanoSMat2005, Aveiro, Portugal-7-9 September (2005)

5. O. Ademosu, A.A. Ogwu, F.Placido, J.McLean and T. Ashton, “Surface characterisation of modified biocompatible nitinol alloy wires exposed to Saline and Hanks physiological solution”. presented at the Institute of Physics (UK) conference on Novel Applications of surface modification, Chester College, UK, 18-21 September (2005)