Fabrication of Anti-Reflective Surface with Superhydrophobicity/High Oleophobicity and Enhanced Mechanical Durability via Nanosecond Laser Surface Texturing

Abstract

In this work, anti-reflective surface with superhydrophobicity/oleophobicity and enhanced abrasion resistance was fabricated on steel alloy surface. Two different surface patterns (i.e., parallel microgrooves and spot arrays) were created by nanosecond laser ablation and chemical immersion. The surface micro/nanostructure, spectral reflectance, wettability, and abrasion resistance of all the samples were determined. The experimental results showed that the laser-chemical treated surfaces exhibited much lower spectral reflectance and significantly enhanced surface integrities compared with the untreated surface. Firstly, the contact angles of water, glycerol, and engine oil on the laser-chemical treated surfaces were increased up to 158.9°, 157.2°, and 130.0° respectively, meaning the laser-chemical treated surfaces achieved both superhydrophobicity and high oleophobicity. Secondly, the laser-chemical treated surface showed enhanced abrasion resistance. The experimental results indicated that the spectral reflectance of the laser-chemical treated surfaces remained almost unchanged, while the laser-chemical treated surface patterned with parallel microgrooves sustained superhydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 150.2° even after more than one hundred abrasion cycles, demonstrating the superior mechanical durability. Overall, this fabrication method has shown its effectiveness for fabrication of multifunctional metal surface integrating the surface functionalities of anti-reflectivity, superhydrophobicity/high oleophobicity, and enhanced abrasion resistance.

Soft Functionally Gradient Materials and Structures – Natural and Manmade: A Review

“…[157][158][159][160] GRIN optics prepared by configuring nanostructures have been widely used to create anti-reflective (AR) surfaces inspired by the subwavelength 3D protrusions in moth eyes. [180][181][182][183] In a study by Krauss et al, moth-eye structure and spatial chemical composition variation were combined to obtain a GRIN profile (Figure 6e). [180]…”

In-situ deposition of oxidized porous metal nanoparticles on the surface of picosecond laser-induced micro/nano structures: A new kind of meta-surface equipped with both super-hydrophobicity and anti-reflectivity

“…It is well known that the superhydrophobic surface can further contribute to other properties [7], such as anti-icing [8,9], anti-corrosion [10,11], self-cleaning [12,13], anti-drag [14] and electrocatalytic activity [15]. In this context, a kind of micro/nano-structure which simultaneously has functions of both super-hydrophobicity and anti-reflectivity would not only improve the working performance of the device but would also allow it to serve in adverse working conditions [16][17][18][19]. Now, the balanced design and fabrication method of multifunctional surface has become the hot and difficult issue of scientific research.…”

Effects of Electrolyte on Laser-Induced Periodic Surface Structures with Picosecond Laser Pulses

“…Micro/Nanostructures can alter tribology [ 1 , 2 ], wettability [ 3 , 4 ], optical properties [ 5 , 6 ] and bioaffinity [ 7 , 8 ] on the material surface. The short-pulsed laser (SPL) is an appropriate method to fabricate nanostructures, called laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSSs), inducing a reduction of friction [ 9 , 10 ], water repellency and hydrophilicity [ 11 , 12 , 13 ], anti-reflection [ 14 , 15 ] and improvement of biocompatibility [ 16 , 17 ].…”