Large-Area Fabrication of Laser-Induced Periodic Surface Structures on Fused Silica Using Thin Gold Layers

Abstract

<jats:p>Despite intensive research activities in the field of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS), the large-area nanostructuring of glasses is still a challenging problem, which is mainly caused by the strongly non-linear absorption of the laser radiation by the dielectric material. Therefore, most investigations are limited to single-spot experiments on different types of glasses. Here, we report the homogeneous generation of LIPSS on large-area surfaces of fused silica using thin gold layers and a fs-laser with a wavelength λ = 1025 nm, a pulse duration τ = 300 fs, and a repetition frequency frep = 100 kHz as radiation source. For this purpose, single-spot experiments are performed to study the LIPSS formation process as a function of laser parameters and gold layer thickness. Based on these results, the generation of large-area homogenous LIPSS pattern was investigated by unidirectional scanning of the fs-laser beam across the sample surface using different line spacing. The nanostructures are characterized by a spatial period of about 360 nm and a modulation depth of around 160 nm. Chemical surface analysis by Raman spectroscopy confirms a complete ablation of the gold film by the fs-laser irradiation. The characterization of the functional properties shows an increased transmission of the nanostructured samples accompanied by a noticeable change in the wetting properties, which can be additionally modified within a wide range by silanization. The presented approach enables the reproducible LIPSS-based laser direct-writing of sub-wavelength nanostructures on glasses and thus provides a versatile and flexible tool for novel applications in the fields of optics, microfluidics, and biomaterials.</jats:p>

Maxwell Meets Marangoni—A Review of Theories on Laser‐Induced Periodic Surface Structures

“…In such a scanning approach, surface structures formed in the high fluence part of the scanned laser-beam can later be "overwritten" by the low fluence tail of the Gaussian beam profile, often resulting in hierarchical micro-nano-structures with different types of LIPSS being superimposed. [143] To at least roughly allow for some inter-comparison of spot, line, and area processing with a pulsed laser beam (repetition frequency (f rep )), the concept of effective number of laser pulses per beam spot area is often used [144,145] N eff ,1D = 2w 0 Δx =…”

“…In such a scanning approach, surface structures formed in the high fluence part of the scanned laser‐beam can later be “overwritten” by the low fluence tail of the Gaussian beam profile, often resulting in hierarchical micro‐nano‐structures with different types of LIPSS being superimposed. [ 143 ] To at least roughly allow for some inter‐comparison of spot, line, and area processing with a pulsed laser beam (repetition frequency ( f rep )), the concept of effective number of laser pulses per beam spot area is often used [ 144,145 ] However, it is important to underline that N , N eff,1D , and N eff,2D cannot simply be considered as “the same parameter considering the number of laser pulse exposures.” None of the available microscopic LIPSS theories includes such laser beam scanning effects, although the theoretical approaches of Eichstädt et al. [ 146 ] and Mezera et al.…”

Quo Vadis LIPSS?—Recent and Future Trends on Laser-Induced Periodic Surface Structures

“…For hexagonally arranged ablative nanobumps on glass, tens of nanometer thick copper and silver coatings were shown to be suitable [ 83 , 84 ]. Later, Kunz et al demonstrated that large surface areas homogeneously covered by HSFL can be processed on fused silica by the help of an additional 20 nm-thick gold layer [ 85 ]. LIPSS on thin films: Often, the selective structuring of thin film coatings is necessary for creating specific surface functionalities.…”

Editorial: Special Issue “Laser-Generated Periodic Nanostructures”

“…We aimed to attract both academic and industrial researchers in order to collate the current knowledge of nanomaterials and to present new ideas for future applications and new technologies. By 8 August 2021, 22 scientific articles have been published in the Special Issue [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ], see .…”

“…Three “Feature Papers” [ 15 , 16 , 17 ] were invited by the Guest Editors for the adequate framing of this Special Issue. An additional 19 papers were published as regular contributions [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ].…”