Thermal and cold spray coatings play an important role not only in extending the durability of engineering surfaces but also in imparting additional functionality critical to enabling the energy transition. Depending on their electrochemical relationship with the underlying substrate, coatings can serve distinctly different purposes- when anodic, they can function as distributed sacrificial anodes providing galvanic protection, whereas cathodic coatings must be designed to remain free from surface-connected porosity to ensure effective barrier performance. These contrasting scenarios require fundamentally different coating strategies. This presentation will explore these concepts through two case studies: (i) coatings for phase change material (PCM)-based thermal energy storage systems, where functional and protective roles are integrated, and (ii) barrier coatings that protect the underlying substrate while supporting next-generation energy technologies. Together, these examples highlight the versatility of thermal and cold spray coatings and their role in advancing materials solutions for sustainable energy systems.
