Zinc Oxide Coatings Research Articles

Synthesis and characterization of ZnO and CuO coatings for antibacterial and antiviral applications

Copper oxide (CuO) and Zinc oxide (ZnO), coating have attracted attention for their potential antiviral properties, including their ability to combat virus. This study focuses on the development and characterization of self-disinfecting surface passivation films composed of CuO and ZnO, obtained using the spin-coating technique. The research aims to develop surfaces that can actively eliminate harmful microorganisms, reducing the risk of infections, while also offering strong mechanical resistance and adhesion to withstand external factors, which is crucial for ensuring long-term effectiveness. Additionally, the microstructural properties of the elaborated films were analyzed using SEM/EDS, which stands for Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy and X-Ray diffraction analysis (XRD). The mechanical behavior was assessed through Vickers hardness and scratch resistance tests. It was found a dense and homogeneous thin films. The hardness of CuO and ZnO films were 11.14 ± 0.04 GPa, and 8.89 ± 0.04 GPa respectively. Therefore, scratching tests revealed high adhesion properties with a critical load LC1 of 1.89 ± 0.02 N and 1.04 ± 0.02 N for CuO and ZnO films respectively. Then, this study revealed that CuO and ZnO films exhibit excellent antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, as well as outstanding antiviral activity against the HSV-2 virus.

Achieving a super-strengthening functional composite coating from ZnO doped snail shell particulate for mitigation of mild steel towards improved microstructural, corrosion, and opto-electrical properties

Long-lasting protective coatings are essential, particularly under harsh operating conditions. Surface coatings provide a flexible alternative; electrodeposition is becoming an established approach for protecting steel. The intent of this study is to determine how effectively zinc oxide (ZnO) coatings for mild steel corrosion protection effect when integrated with snail shell particle (SSP). The experimental setup consisted of producing a coating bath with ZnO and SSP particles, then electrodeposting the mixture under conditions onto polished steel surfaces. The created coatings were subjected to an array of tests, including electrical conductivity and resistivity testing, morphological analysis using SEM/EDS, corrosion testing in a 1M HCl solution, hardness testing. The findings show that when SSP content increases, steel corrosion rates significantly decrease, suggesting improved corrosion resistance from 21.85(mm/yr) to 12.80(mm/yr), and polarization resistance of 4.47E+01(Ω) to 8.00E+01(Ω). Morphological examination shows that SSP particles are dispersed throughout the coating matrix, which promotes adhesion and stability. Also, coatings with more SSP show better electrical characteristics. Overall, the study shows how ZnO-SSP coatings can shield mild steel components from adverse conditions and have prospective uses in sectors where surfaces resistant to corrosion are needed.

Electrochemically deposited zinc oxide films on stainless steel for photo degradation of Basic Red 18 dye

<p style="margin-top:8px; margin-bottom:8px; text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">In this</span></span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> study, zinc oxide (ZnO) films have been electrochemically deposited on stainless steel and its photocatalytic activity on the degradation of BR 18 dyes was tested. The effects of different electrodeposition conditions such as deposition potential and deposition time on the nanostructures of ZnO films were investigated in detail and the best electrodeposition conditions were optimized. The electrochemical, structural and morphological, were characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), respectively. The best removal efficiency was 37% at -1.2 V, and increased up to 53% after 300 sec coating. The number of electrodes (1, 2, 3 and 4 coatings) and dye concentration (5, 10, 15 mg/L) covered with -1.2 V potential and the coating synthesized in 300 seconds were studied. A complete removal was obtained when the number of electrodes covered was 4 and at 5 mg/L initial dye concentration. The number of reuses was tested up to 5 cycles. ZnO coatings on stainless steel that were electrochemically charged showed good photocatalytic stability. </span></span></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Because ZnO films have both economic and environmental advantages, it is imperative that they can be synthesized using environmentally benign processes and used in photocatalysis. This novel strategy provides a chance to utilize ZnO film photocatalytic characteristics for a range of environmental remediation applications in addition to providing a sustainable wastewater management solution.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

Mitigating UV-Induced Degradation in Solar Panels through ZnO Nanocomposite Coatings

This study explores the enhancement of silicon-based solar cell performance and durability through the application of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanocomposite film coatings. Utilizing the sol–gel method, ZnO nanorods were synthesized and dispersed within a polyvinyl butyral (PVB) matrix, resulting in uniform nanocomposite films. Comprehensive characterization using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), UV-Visible spectroscopy, and contact angle measurements confirmed the effective integration and desirable properties of ZnO within the PVB matrix. The ZnO coatings demonstrated superior UV absorptivity, significantly blocking UV radiation at 355 nm while maintaining high transparency in the visible range. This led to improvements in key photovoltaic parameters, including short circuit current (Jsc), open-circuit voltage (Voc), efficiency (η), and fill factor (FF). Although a minor reduction in Isc was observed due to the ZnO layer’s influence on the light absorption spectrum, the overall efficiency and fill factor experienced notable enhancements. Furthermore, the thermal load on the solar cells was effectively reduced, mitigating UV-induced degradation and thereby prolonging the operational lifespan of the solar panels. Under damp heat conditions, the coated solar panels exhibited remarkable durability compared to their uncoated counterparts, underscoring the protective advantages of ZnO films. These findings highlight the potential of ZnO nanocomposite coatings to significantly boost the efficiency, reliability, and longevity of silicon-based solar panels, making them more viable for long-term deployment in diverse environmental conditions.

Synthesis and Characterization of ZnO and TiO2 Hybrid Coatings for Textile UV Anti-Aging Protection.

The aim of this study was to prepare and characterize thin hybrid films on polyurethane-coated knitted fabrics and to achieve satisfactory color fastness to artificial light. Sol-gel-derived hybrid thin films were deposited via the dip-coating of 3-glycidoxypropiltrimethoxysilane. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanopowders were added to compensate for the insufficient aging resistance, which manifests itself in low color fastness and is one of the most frequent complaints from manufacturers of coated marine fabrics (yachts, boats, etc.). The optimum processing conditions were determined by varying the concentration of precursors and auxiliaries, the mass concentration of TiO2 and ZnO nanopowders, the drawing speed, and the methods and process of fabric treatment. The hybrid films were also characterized using scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total internal reflection, while Spectraflash SF 300 investigated color fastness. After 300 h of exposure in a xenon chamber, the thin hybrid films showed good color fastness and good resistance to washing cycles. The sol-gel treatment proved to be a successful answer to the manufacturers' need for the post-treatment of polyurethane-coated knitted fabrics against UV radiation for use in the marine sector (yachts, speedboats, etc.).

Haze factor of silver nanowires in variable refractive index environment: experimental and simulation approaches

While silver nanowires (Ag NWs) have been demonstrated as a highly efficient transparent conducting material, they suffer from strong light scattering, which is quantified by a large haze factor (HF) in the optical spectrum. Here we investigate the influence of the dielectric environment on the light scattering of Ag NWs by comparing experimental measurements and simulations. In air, two peaks on the HF spectra are observed experimentally at the wavelength of λ I = 350 nm and λ II = 380 nm and are attributed by simulations to the influence of the Ag NWs pentagonal shape on the localized surface plasmon resonance. The relative intensity between the two peaks is found to be dependent on whether the Ag NWs are in contact with the glass substrate or not. The HF behaviour in the near IR region seems to be dominated by Rayleigh scattering following simulations results. Dielectric environments of Ag NWs with various refractive indexes were obtained experimentally by the conformal deposition of different metal oxide coatings using atomic layer deposition, including Al-doped zinc oxide, Al2O3 and SiO2 coatings. The HF is found to be correlated with the refractive index environment in terms of HF peaks position, intensity and broadening. This trend of HF peaks is supported by a theoretical model to understand the optical mechanism behind this phenomenon.

Characterization of Electrochemical and Biocompatibility of Zinc Oxide Coating Electrodeposited on Commercial Pure Titanium Alloy

This study examines how the duration of electrodeposition affects the morphology and electrochemical characteristics of zinc oxide coatings applied to a pure titanium substrate. The morphology of the coating and the phases present within it are analyzed using a scanning electron microscope and the X‐ray diffraction technique. The coating's resistance to corrosion in a phosphate‐buffered saline solution is evaluated using two electrochemical methods: impedance spectroscopy and potentiodynamic polarization tests. The surface roughness of the coated samples is assessed using interferometry. The results demonstrate that an increase in electrodeposition time, ranging from 150 to 1200 s, leads to an enhanced texture intensity in the (0002) and (010) planes of the ZnO coating. Furthermore, the thickness of the ZnO crystals and surface roughness increases by factors of 3.25 and 2.79, respectively, as the deposition time is extended. This extended duration results in the formation of larger needle‐shaped and flower‐like ZnO crystals, leading to a significantly nonuniform structure. Correspondingly, the corrosion rate also increases as the electrodeposition time is extended from 150 to 1200 s, rising from 0.001951 to 9.117 μm year−1. The lowest corrosion rate (1.654 μm year−1) is achieved in coatings deposited for 300 s using a potential of 3 V.

Innovative Surface Nano Zinc Oxide Coatings: A Breakthrough in Grape Preservation, Enriching Phytochemicals, and Mitigating Fungal Contamination for Enhanced Nutritional Quality

This study explores the transformative impact of the innovative surface nano zinc oxide coatings on grapes, emphasizing their influence on postharvest attributes, phytochemical composition, and fungal population. Distinct coating formulations, including distilled water (Control), chitosan (C), chitosan-nano zinc oxide (C-NZO), and chitosan-nano zinc oxide with the addition of essential oils (C-NZO-EO), were applied to fresh grapes. Results unveiled that the C-NZO-EO treatment positively impacted potassium, calcium, and magnesium levels. Control samples exhibited the highest acidity (3.8), while C-NZO-EO demonstrated superior visual rachis scores (3.41). Anthocyanidin analysis revealed elevated values especially for C-NZO-EO-treated grapes. Fungal populations were significantly reduced in samples treated with C-NZO-EO to reach (3.44 CFU/g). In conclusion, coating with C-NZO-EO emerged as a highly effective strategy for grape preservation, offering enhanced nutritional quality and fungal resistance.

Analysis of Antibacterial and Antiviral Properties of ZnO and Cu Coatings Deposited by Magnetron Sputtering: Evaluation of Cell Viability and ROS Production

The development and testing of antimicrobial coatings continues to be a crucial approach, considering the ongoing emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the rapid transmission of highly pathogenic viruses. In this study, three types of coatings—pure metallic copper (Cu), zinc oxide (ZnO), and a three-layer zinc oxide and copper mixed coating (ZnO/Cu/ZnO)—were deposited by magnetron sputtering on polyethylene terephthalate substrates to evaluate their antimicrobial potential using various microorganisms, including viruses. Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria were used for the assessment of antibacterial properties. Antiviral testing was performed using MS2 bacteriophage and replication-deficient Semliki Forest virus, both representing single-stranded RNA-containing viruses. The samples’ ability to cause reactive oxygen species formation was measured, and the effect on bacterial metabolic activity was evaluated. Cu-coated samples showed high inhibitory activity (>95%) against E. coli and S. aureus bacteria, as well as against tested viruses (SFV and MS2). The antibacterial and antiviral properties of ZnO/Cu/ZnO and ZnO coatings were not significant. Although ZnO/Cu/ZnO and ZnO caused inhibition of the metabolic activity of the bacteria, it was insufficient for complete bacteria eradication. Furthermore, significant reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was detected only for single Cu-coated samples, correlating with the strong bacteria-killing ability. We suppose that the ZnO layer exhibited a low release of Zn ions and prevented contact of the Cu layer with bacteria and viruses in the ZnO/Cu/ZnO coating. We conclude that current ZnO and Cu-ZnO-layered coatings do not possess antibacterial and antiviral activity.

Impact of operating pressure and oxygen gas flow on the characteristics of zinc oxide coatings

The primary aim of this study is to examine the effects of various combinations of working pressure and oxygen gas flow on the properties of zinc oxide (ZnO) coatings. Well-crystalline ZnO coatings are formed by employing RF magnetron sputtering on silicon wafers and glass while varying the working pressure and oxygen gas flow. The structure of the thin film was analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD). According to the XRD data, the film's structure was made of ZnO, and the peak (002) was visible. Over the wavelength range of 300–800 nm, the optical transmittance of ZnO thin film was examined. The observed transmission value was on average 85 %. With the assistance of contact angle measurement equipment, the surface energy and contact angle of the developed coatings were both determined. Measured contact angles ranged from 96.6° to 115.3°, whereas the surface energy ranged from 14.08 to 25.11 mJ/m2. The enhancement of the anti-icing attributes was achieved by the modification of the operating pressure and gas flow during the deposition process of the coatings.

Accessibility and Mechanical Stability of Nanoporous Zinc Oxide and Aluminum Oxide Coatings Synthesized via Infiltration of Polymer Templates.

The conformal nanoporous inorganic coatings with accessible pores that are stable under applied thermal and mechanical stresses represent an important class of materials used in the design of sensors, optical coatings, and biomedical systems. Here, we synthesize porous AlOx and ZnO coatings by the sequential infiltration synthesis (SIS) of two types of polymers that enable the design of porous conformal coatings-polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIM) and block co-polymer (BCP) templates. Using quartz crystal microbalance (QCM), we show that alumina precursors infiltrate both polymer templates four times more efficiently than zinc oxide precursors. Using the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) technique, we provide a comprehensive study on the room temperature accessibility to water and ethanol of pores in block copolymers (BCPs) and porous polymer templates using polystyrene-block-poly-4-vinyl pyridine (PS75-b-P4VP25) and polymers of intrinsic microporosity (PIM-1), polymer templates modified by swelling, and porous inorganic coatings such as AlOx and ZnO synthesized by SIS using such templates. Importantly, we demonstrate that no structural damage occurs in inorganic nanoporous AlOx and ZnO coatings synthesized via infiltration of the polymer templates during the water freezing/melting cycling tests, suggesting excellent mechanical stability of the coatings, even though the hardness of the inorganic nanoporous coating is affected by the polymer and precursor selections. We show that the hardness of the coatings is further improved by their annealing at 900 °C for 1 h, though for all the cases except ZnO obtained using the BCP template, this annealing has a negligible effect on the porosity of the material, as is confirmed by the consistency in the optical characteristics. These findings unravel new potential for the materials being used across various environment and temperature conditions.

Editorial Expression of Concern: Study of heat transfer characteristics on steel tube boilers by the application of zinc oxide and graphene coatings

Editorial Expression of Concern: Study of heat transfer characteristics on steel tube boilers by the application of zinc oxide and graphene coatings

The effect of bioactive glass nanoparticles on corrosion barrier performance and bioactivity of zinc oxide coatings electrodeposited on Ti6Al4V substrate

Zinc oxide coatings were electrodeposited on Ti6Al4V substrates from a nitrate bath with and without 1 wt% BG nanoparticles at −1.2 and −1.4 VAg/AgCl, where the former voltage created a spherical morphology, the latter developed a flower-like one. The spherical morphology was modified through the incorporation of BG nanoparticles, where surface roughness, wettability, and adhesion strength of the coating were enhanced. The coatings with spherical morphology also revealed complete barrier property after immersion in PBS solution. However, fully adverse effects were found for the coatings deposited at −1.4 VAg/AgCl. This indicates that morphology is the most important factor determining the properties of ZnO and ZnO-BG coatings. The highest corrosion barrier performance was achieved for the ZnO-BG composite coating with spherical morphology. Although the composite coating with flower-like morphology did not provide complete barrier property at short immersion times, it earned that at longer times due to the plugging supported by the BG nanoparticles. The bioactivity tests in SBF at long times showed that the formation of Ca-P deposits on the surface of the composite coatings was noticeably improved.

Atomic layer deposition of oxide coatings on porous metal and polymer structures fabricated by additive manufacturing methods (laser-based powder bed fusion, material extrusion, material jetting)

Complex porous 316 L stainless steel, Ti-6Al-4V, Ti-6Al-7Nb, ULTEM™ 1010 and MED610™ polymer structures were produced with additive manufacturing methods. The structures were surface functionalized by atomic layer deposition of titanium, zinc and zirconium oxide coatings with a thickness between 14 and 43 nm. Deep and narrow structures with aspect ratios >10 could be coated. Titanium oxide films are mostly amorphous when plasma-assisted deposition is used and contain nanocrystalline anatase when deposited by thermal atomic layer deposition. The deposited titanium oxide grains ranged in size from ∼20 to 60 nm. In interior parts of the fractured porous polymer model structures with pore sizes of 1–2 mm, both thermal and plasma-assisted titanium oxide thin films and partly delamination were detected. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis revealed almost stoichiometric composition and dominance of the Ti (IV) oxidation state at a 250 °C deposition temperature. Zinc oxide coatings in porous polymer model structures partly delaminate as well, while adhesion and homogeneity is higher for printed Ti-6Al-7Nb lattice structures with a 0.5-mm mesh size. Zirconium oxide coatings on Ti-6Al-4V lattice structures with a 0.8-mm mesh size are comparable to zinc oxide coatings but are mostly crystalline. This is attributed to the relatively high, 300 °C deposition temperature. The findings demonstrate potential but also limitations of combined additive manufacturing and atomic layer deposition for medicine and energy production applications. In addition, the results confirm previous studies that metallic and polymeric substrate materials and process conditions strongly influence the coating structure and composition, and individual development of each intended application is required.

Investigation of the Microstructure, Optical, Electrical and Nanomechanical Properties of ZnOx Thin Films Deposited by Magnetron Sputtering.

The paper presents the results of an investigation of the influence of technological parameters on the microstructure, optical, electrical and nanomechanical properties of zinc oxide coatings prepared using the pulsed reactive magnetron sputtering method. Three sets of ZnOx thin films were deposited in metallic, shallow dielectric and deep dielectric sputtering modes. Structural investigations showed that thin films deposited in the metallic mode were nanocrystalline with mixed hexagonal phases of metallic zinc and zinc oxide with crystallite size of 9.1 and 6.0 nm, respectively. On the contrary, the coatings deposited in both dielectric modes had a nanocrystalline ZnO structure with an average crystallite size smaller than 10 nm. Moreover, coatings deposited in the dielectric modes had an average transmission of 84% in the visible wavelength range, while thin films deposited in the metallic mode were opaque. Measurements of electrical properties revealed that the resistivity of as-deposited thin films was in the range of 10−4 Ωcm to 108 Ωcm. Coatings deposited in the metallic mode had the lowest hardness of 2.2 GPa and the worst scratch resistance among all sputtered coatings, whereas the best mechanical properties were obtained for the film sputtered in the deep dielectric mode. The obtained hardness of 11.5 GPa is one of the highest reported to date in the literature for undoped ZnO.

Morphology-dependent electrochemical stability of electrodeposited polypyrrole/nano-ZnO composite coatings

To elevate the electrochemical stability of polypyrrole–zinc oxide (PPy–ZnO) coatings, five different electrodeposition protocols were attempted to fabricate PPy–ZnO nanocomposites on tungsten substrates. The effects of the electrodeposition schemes on the morphology, microstructure and electrochemical properties of coatings were systematically analyzed, and the long-term electrochemical stability was examined via biphasic current pulse measurement in 0.01 M phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). Results indicated that our newly coated samples displayed safer capacitive charge transform behaviors. In particular, the cathodic charge storage capacity (CCSC) and safe charge injection capacity (Qinj) of the coated sample prepared by cyclic voltammetry (CV) electrodeposition were 15.3 and 0.26 mC/cm2, respectively, which were approximately 7 times and 30% greater than those of pure substrate. Moreover, the coated sample also showed perfect long-term electrochemical stability with no delamination, cracks, or ridges on the coating surface. This improvement is mainly attributed to CV electrodeposition, which smoothed the polymer morphology, compacted the structure, enhanced the interface adhesion, and diminished the internal micropores, leading to minimized volumetric expansion and shrinking of coatings in the long-term charge/discharge process.

Reduction of Infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 by Zinc Oxide Coatings.

We developed antimicrobial coatings from ZnO particles that reduce the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 suspensions by >99.9% in 1 h. The advantage of a coating is that it can be applied to a variety of objects, e.g., hand rails and door knobs, to hinder the spread of disease. Two porous coatings were prepared: one from submicrometer zinc oxide particles bound with silica menisci and the other from zinc oxide tetrapods bound with polyurethane. Experiments on glass coatings show that infectivity depends on porosity for hydrophilic materials, wherein aqueous droplets are imbibed into the pores.

Biofilm-Resistant Nanocoatings Based on ZnO Nanoparticles and Linalool.

Biofilms represent an increasing challenge in the medical practice worldwide, imposing a serious threat to public health. As bacterial strains have developed antibiotic resistance, researcher’s attention has been extensively focused on developing more efficient antimicrobial strategies. In this context, the present study reports the synthesis, physicochemical characterization, ex vivo biodistribution, and in vitro evaluation of the capacity of nanostructured surfaces based on zinc oxide (ZnO) and biologically active molecules to modulate clinically relevant microbial biofilms. ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized through a co-precipitation method without thermal treatment. The matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation (MAPLE) was applied for preparing nanostructured coatings based on ZnO NPs surface modified with linalool that were further characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis with differential scanning calorimetry (TGA-DSC), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy with selected area electron diffraction (TEM-SAED), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and infrared microscopy (IRM). Histological analyses carried out at 7 days and 14 days after the intraperitoneal administration of linalool modified ZnO NPs revealed the absence of the latter from the brain, kidney, liver, lung, myocardium, and pancreas. Through in vitro assays on prokaryotic cells, it was proven that ZnO coatings hinder microbial biofilm formation of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria strains.

Obtaining Nanostructured ZnO onto Si Coatings for Optoelectronic Applications via Eco-Friendly Chemical Preparation Routes.

Although the research on zinc oxide (ZnO) has a very long history and its applications are almost countless as the publications on this subject are extensive, this semiconductor is still full of resources and continues to offer very interesting results worth publishing or warrants further investigation. The recent years are marked by the development of novel green chemical synthesis routes for semiconductor fabrication in order to reduce the environmental impacts associated with synthesis on one hand and to inhibit/suppress the toxicity and hazards at the end of their lifecycle on the other hand. In this context, this study focused on the development of various kinds of nanostructured ZnO onto Si substrates via chemical route synthesis using both classic solvents and some usual non-toxic beverages to substitute the expensive high purity reagents acquired from specialized providers. To our knowledge, this represents the first systematic study involving common beverages as reagents in order to obtain ZnO coatings onto Si for optoelectronic applications by the Aqueous Chemical Growth (ACG) technique. Moreover, the present study offers comparative information on obtaining nanostructured ZnO coatings with a large variety of bulk and surface morphologies consisting of crystalline nanostructures. It was revealed from X-ray diffraction analysis via Williamson–Hall plots that the resulting wurtzite ZnO has a large crystallite size and small lattice strain. These morphological features resulted in good optical properties, as proved by photoluminescence (PL) measurements even at room temperature (295 K). Good optical properties could be ascribed to complex surface structuring and large surface-to-volume ratios.

Low-Temperature Large-Area Zinc Oxide Coating Prepared by Atmospheric Microplasma-Assisted Ultrasonic Spray Pyrolysis

Zinc oxide (ZnO) coatings have various unique properties and are often used in applications such as transparent conductive films in photovoltaic systems. This study developed an atmospheric-pressure microplasma-enhanced ultrasonic spray pyrolysis system, which can prepare large-area ZnO coatings at low temperatures under atmospheric-pressure conditions. The addition of an atmospheric-pressure microplasma-assisted process helped improve the preparation of ZnO coatings under atmospheric conditions, compared to using a conventional ultrasonic spray pyrolysis process, effectively reducing the preparation temperature to 350 °C. A program-controlled three-axis platform demonstrated its potential for the large-scale synthesis of ZnO coatings. The X-ray diffraction results showed that the ZnO coatings prepared by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis exhibited (002) preferred growth orientation and had a visible-light penetration rate of more than 80%. After vacuum treatment, the ZnO reached a 1.0 × 10−3 Ωcm resistivity and a transmittance of 82%. The tribology behavior of ZnO showed that the vacuum-annealed coating had a low degree of wear and a low coefficient of friction as the uniformly distributed and dense coating increased its load capacity.