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Long seen as “a solution seeking a problem,” laser pulses are nowadays – more than 60 years after their first practical demonstration – paramount in shaping and structuring matter. Harnessing their capabilities to direct intense beams of light, the number of scientific and technological developments and daily-life applications is continuously increasing. Today, the presence of lasers is ubiquitous in all sites of scientific and technological interest, from the most advanced research laboratories to industrial factories and medical hospitals.
The directionality of the laser beam determines equally a local character on lightmatter interaction and as such a local modification to a material target. Furthermore, the coherence of laser radiation enables near-field or far-field scattering and interference effects that widen significantly the capabilities of controlling and tracking laser-matter interactions in space and time. Already with the advent of lasers, powerful beams of light have been directed at solid materials for a variety of purposes, making this application as old as the laser itself. The roots of the major applications for laser structuring were developed already in the 1960s, setting the base of both theoretical and experimental studies on laser ablation, with the number of publications expanding explosively during the next decades.
Within this dynamic context, laser processing of materials experienced an impressive development over the years. Laser processing means specifically the capability to structure and tailor a material on its surface or even within its volume, rendering new functions and properties that are impacting the mechanical, electrical, or optical characteristics of the material. These properties are scaledependent, generating thus over the years an equally impressive quest for spatial or temporal resolution. Therefore, the developments in laser engineering with major breakthroughs, notably in pulse duration and power, always closely accompanied the efforts in material structuring with two milestones in sight: (1) yield and (2) resolution. Every step in shrinking the laser pulse duration led to a subsequent strong-impact development in process precision – particularly when the ultrashort pulse durations surpassed the fundamental electron-phonon relaxation times. Thus, minimizing heat diffusion, the advent of pulses with duration smaller than molecular or lattice vibration times has managed to confine the spatial resolution to the optical diffraction limit and sometimes even beyond. The nanoscale was already in sight at the turn of the millennium. An important question may be raised now; is there any fundamental limit in the processing resolution, a barrier defined by the intrinsic properties of light and matter? The answer has an inherently multidisciplinary nature, following the conversion of free-propagating electromagnetic radiation into
material-confined energy potentially usable to drive or transform matter, and will be the focus of the present book.
Relying on the experience and expertise of the leading researchers in the field, the present book intends to explore the current efforts in achieving laser processing resolution beyond the diffraction limit, laying down a perspective towards extreme laser nanostructuring. Following the most recent advances and developments, it puts forward a concept of extreme processing scales enabled by optical pulses that are able to bypass diffraction limits and achieve structuring characteristic scales beyond 100 nm. This objective can be achieved by a comprehensive understanding on how light can change matter and how, in turn, matter can change light, allowing jointly for actively controlling light and material processes. In order to give an extended perspective on the current state-of-the-art in the field of precision laser structuring, the book is divided into three main parts.
The first part of the book (Part I: Fundamental Processes) offers a perspective into the fundamentals of laser-matter interaction on extreme spatial scales, with a description of the most advanced modeling efforts in understanding energy deposition in matter, a plethora of material-relaxation pathways, as well as advanced concepts for probing and observing matter in motion. Roadmaps for energy localization will be developed, and the atomistic perspective of laser ablation visualized. Theoretical modelling enables in-depth insights on ultrafast quantum processes at the nanoscale. Laser-driven self-organization at surfaces will be dissected regarding the question of how light drives material periodic patterns down to the nanoscale, explored and transmitted to its ultimate limits of an atomic printer, and immediately complemented by the unprecedented capabilities of ultrafast in-situ observation approaches for tracking the laser-induced material response with extreme spatial and temporal resolution.
In the second part of the book (Part II: Concepts of Extreme Nanostructuring), distinct concepts will be developed and explored that allow confinement of light and harnessing of a material response restricted to nano- or mesoscopic scales at surfaces or in the volume of irradiated materials. A special focus will be on optical near-field related approaches for localizing light on scales even below the optical diffraction limit and plasmonic printing. Spatial and temporal beam-shaping and tailored interference techniques are discussed in the context of ultrashort laser pulses, and insights into some extreme states of matter realized by the tight confinement of laser energy are presented. The ultimate limits of writing waveguides in the bulk of dielectrics and for manifesting 3D-nanolithography are elucidated. Plasma-based surface treatments can significantly enhance the vertical precision of surface processing through etching processes.
Finally, the third part of the book (Part III: Applications) leads us to a number of resuming applications, unveiling the tremendous capabilities of surface functionalization through laser micro- and nanostructuring, assessing the 3D-writing of waveguides in the bulk of dielectrics or semiconductors for enabling new branches of integrated photonics, and summarizing related applications ranging from nanophotonics to nanofluidics and from optical sensing to biomedical applications, including the latest capabilities of refractive eye surgery. This part will analyze the applications’ compatibility in yield and reproducibility with current industrial requirements, costs, and intellectual property aspects. It expands the involved spatial scales by more than eight orders of magnitude, when extending extremely small structures featuring sizes of few tens of nanometers to larger dimensions in the meter range.
Thus, from surfaces to the bulk, from subtractive to additive manufacturing approaches, from advanced theoretical frames to practical technological processes – we invite the readers here to an exciting journey into the varicolored landscape of extreme laser nanostructuring.
The idea of this book project was seeded in early 2020. We were delighted about the numerous and extremely positive responses from the laser-processing community, quickly receiving commitments for more than 30 individual book chapters. About 2500 communications later, the book is published. We would like to thank all authors of this book project for their insightful and detailed chapters, reviewing and reporting on this fascinating topic of the pursuit of extreme scales in ultrafast laser nanostructuring. Moreover, we would like to acknowledge the professional help and guidance of the staff of Springer Nature. Finally, we hope you will enjoy reading this book as much as we have enjoyed putting it together.
Saint Etienne, France Razvan Stoian
Berlin, Germany Jörn Bonse
December 2022
Surface nanostructures provide the possibility to create and tailor surface functionalities mainly via controlling their topography along with other chemical and physical material properties. One of the most appealing technologies for surface functionalization via micro- and nanostructuring is based on laser processing. This can be done either via direct contour-shaping of the irradiated material using a tightly focused laser beam or in a self-ordered way that allows employing larger laser beam diameters along with areal scanning to create a variety of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS). For the latter approach, particularly ultrashort pulsed lasers have recently pushed the borders across long-lasting limitations regarding the minimum achievable feature sizes and additionally boosted up the production times. This chapter reviews the plethora of recently investigated applications of LIPSS—for example, via imposing diffractive or plasmonic structural colors, the management of liquids and surface wetting properties, biomedical and bioinspired functionalities, beneficial effects in tribology for reducing friction and wear, the manipulation of optical scattering and absorption in photovoltaics, or the modification of magnetic or superconducting surface properties in other energy applications. The footprint of the LIPSS-based technology is explored in detail regarding the current state of industrialization, including an analysis of the market and associated LIPSS production costs.
Irradiation of solid surfaces with intense ultrashort laser pulses represents a unique way of depositing energy into materials. It allows to realize states of extreme electronic excitation and/or very high temperature and pressure and to drive materials close to and beyond fundamental stability limits. As a consequence, structural changes and phase transitions often occur along unusual pathways and under strongly nonequilibrium conditions. Due to the inherent multiscale nature—both temporally and spatially—of these irreversible processes, their direct experimental observation requires techniques that combine high temporal resolution with the appropriate spatial resolution and the capability to obtain good quality data on a single pulse/event basis. In this respect, fourth-generation light sources, namely, short wavelength and short pulse free electron lasers (FELs), are offering new and fascinating possibilities. As an example, this chapter will discuss the results of scattering experiments carried out at the FLASH free electron laser at DESY (Hamburg, Germany), which allowed us to resolve laser-induced structure formation at surfaces on the nanometer to submicron length scale and in temporal regimes ranging from picoseconds to several nanoseconds with sub-picosecond resolution.
Laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) have gained remarkable attention as they represent a universal phenomenon that is often accompanying laser-processing. Such LIPSS enable a large variety of different surface functionalizations for applications in the fields of optics, fluidics, tribology, or medicine. Moreover, so-called “high spatial frequency LIPSS” (HSFL) provide an appealing and straightforward way for surface nanostructuring featuring spatial periods even below 100 nm – far beyond the optical diffraction limit. However, the imposed surface functionalities are usually caused by both, topographic and chemical surface alterations. For exploring these effects in detail, multi-method characterizations were performed here for HSFL on processed Ti- 6Al- 4V alloy upon irradiation with near-infrared ps-laser pulses (1030 nm wavelength, ~1 ps pulse duration, 1 – 400 kHz pulse repetition rate) under different laser and scan processing conditions. The sample characterization involved morphological and topographical investigations by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), stylus profilometry (SP), and white light interference microscopy (WLIM), as well as near-surface chemical analyses by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) and depth-profiling time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS). The results allow to qualify the laser ablation depth, the geometrical HSFL characteristics and provide detailed insights into the depth extent and the nature of the ps-laser-induced near-surface oxidation. Significance for medical applications will be outlined.
Laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) and their combination with self-ordered microstructures forming hierarchical Spikes enable a large variety of different surface functionalizations for applications in the fields of optics, fluidics, tribology, or medicine. Moreover, high spatial frequency LIPSS (HSFL) provide an appealing and straightforward way for surface nanostructuring featuring spatial periods even below 100 nm – far beyond the optical diffraction limit. However, the imposed surface functionalities are usually caused by both, topographic and chemical surface alterations. For exploring these effects in detail, multi-method characterizations were performed here for HSFL and hierarchical Spikes processed on Ti-6Al-4V alloy upon irradiation with near-infrared ps-laser pulses (1030 nm wavelength, ~1 ps pulse duration, 1 – 400 kHz pulse repetition rate) under different laser and scan processing conditions. The following sample characterization involved morphological and topographical investigations by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), stylus profilometry (SP), and white light interference microscopy (WLIM), as well as near-surface chemical analyses by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) and depth-profiling time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS). The results allow to qualify the laser ablation depth, the geometrical HSFL/Spikes characteristics and provide detailed insights into the depth extent and the nature of the ps-laser-induced near-surface oxidation arising from the laser-processing in ambient air and into the relevance of heat-accumulation effects at high pulse repetition rates. Moreover, the direct comparison of the HAXPES and XPS data reveals the role of surface-covering organic contaminants adsorbed from the ambient atmosphere without the uncertainties and potential sputter reduction potentially caused by ion-sputter depth profiling.
Titanium and its alloys are known to allow the straightforward laser-based manufacturing of ordered surface nanostructures, so-called high spatial frequency laser-induced periodic surface structures (HSFL). These structures exhibit sub-100 nm spatial periods – far below the optical diffraction limit. The resulting surface functionalities are usually enabled by both, topographic and chemical alterations of the nanostructured surfaces. For exploring these effects, multi-method characterizations were performed here for HSFL processed on Ti–6Al–4V alloy upon irradiation with near-infrared ps-laser pulses (1030 nm, ≈1 ps pulse duration, 1–400 kHz) under different laser scan processing conditions, i.e., by systematically varying the pulse repetition frequency and the number of laser irradiation passes. The sample characterization involved morphological and topographical investigations by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), tactile stylus profilometry, as well as near-surface chemical analyses hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) and depth-profiling time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS). This provides a quantification of the laser ablation depth, the geometrical HSFL characteristics and enables new insights into the depth extent and the nature of the non-ablative laser-induced near-surface oxidation accompanying these nanostructures. This allows to answer the questions how the processing of HSFL can be industrially scaled up, and whether the latter is limited by heat-accumulation effects.
This 6 minute long MP4-video presents some key results of the European research project "BioCombs4Nanofibers" to the broader public. Inspired by nature, some concepts of certain types of spiders are transferred to technology in order to develop bacteria-repellent surfaces through laser surface nanostructuring.
Funding notice: This study was funded by the European Union's research and innovation program under the FET Open grant agreement No. 862016 (BioCombs4Nanofibers, http://biocombs4nanofibers.eu).
The processing of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) represents a simple and robust way for the nanostructuring of solids that allows creating a wide range of surface functionalities featuring applications in optics, tribology, medicine, energy technologies, etc. While the currently available laser and scanner technology already allows surface processing rates at the m2/min level, industrial applications of LIPSS are sometimes hampered by the complex interplay between the nanoscale surface topography and the specific surface chemistry. This typically manifests in difficulties to control the processing of LIPSS and in limitations to ensure the long-term stability of the created surface functions. This presentation aims to identify some unsolved scientific problems related to LIPSS, discusses the pending technological limitations, and sketches the current state of theoretical modelling. Hereby, it is intended to stimulate further research and developments in the field of LIPSS for overcoming these limitations and for supporting the transfer of the LIPSS technology into industry.
Due to its large strength-to-weight ratio and excellent biocompatibility, titanium materials are of paramount importance for medical applications, e.g. as implant material for protheses. In this work, the evolution of various types of laser-induced micro- and nanostructures emerging on titanium or titanium alloys upon irradiation by near-infrared ultrashort laser pulses (925 fs, 1030 nm) in air environment is studied for various laser fluence levels, effective number of pulses and at different pulse repetition rates (1 – 400 kHz). The morphologies of the processed surfaces were systematically characterized by optical and scanning electron microscopy (OM, SEM). Complementary white-light interference microscopy (WLIM) revealed the corresponding surface topographies. Chemical and structural changes were analysed through depth-profiling time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. The results point towards a remarkable influence of the laser processing parameters on the surface topography, while simultaneously altering the near-surface chemistry via laser-induced oxidation effects. Consequences for medical applications are outlined.
Nickel tungsten alloy tapes (Ni—5 at% W, 10 mm wide, 80 µm thick, biaxially textured) used in second-generation high temperature superconductor (2G-HTS) technology were laser-processed in air with ultraviolet ps-laser pulses (355 nm wavelength, 300 ps pulse duration, 250–800 kHz pulse repetition frequency). By employing optimized surface scan-processing strategies, various laser-generated periodic surface structures were generated on the tapes. Particularly, distinct surface microstructures and nanostructures were formed. These included sub-wavelength-sized highly-regular hexagonally-arranged nano-protrusions, wavelength-sized line-grating-like laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS, ripples), and larger irregular pyramidal microstructures. The induced surface morphology was characterized in depth by electron-based techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron back scatter diffraction (EBSD), cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (STEM/TEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). The in-depth EBSD crystallographic analyses indicated a significant impact of the material initial grain orientation on the type of surface nanostructure and microstructure formed upon laser irradiation. Special emphasis was laid on high-resolution material analysis of the hexagonally-arranged nano-protrusions. Their formation mechanism is discussed on the basis of the interplay between electromagnetic scattering effects followed by hydrodynamic matter re-organization after the laser exposure. The temperature stability of the hexagonally-arranged nano-protrusion was explored in post-irradiation thermal annealing experiments, in order to qualify their suitability in 2G-HTS fabrication technology with initial steps deposition temperatures in the range of 773–873 K.
Nanofibers are drawing the attention of engineers and scientists because their large surface-to-volume ratio is favorable for applications in medicine, filter technology, textile industry, lithium-air batteries, and optical sensors. However, when transferring nanofibers to a technical product in the form of a random network of fibers, referred to as nonwoven fabric, the stickiness of the freshly produced and thus fragile nanofiber nonwoven remains a problem. This is mainly because nanofibers strongly adhere to any surface because of van der Waals forces. In nature, there are animals that are actually able to efficiently produce, process, and handle nanofibers, namely cribellate spiders. For that, the spiders use the calamistrum, a comb-like structure of modified setae on the metatarsus of the hindmost (fourth) legs, to which the 10–30 nm thick silk nanofibers do not stick due to a special fingerprint-like surface nanostructure. In this work, we present a theoretical model of the interaction of linear nanofibers with a sinusoidally corrugated surface. This model allows for a prediction of the adhesive interaction and, thus, the design of a suitable surface structure to prevent sticking of an artificially nonwoven of nanofibers. According to the theoretical prediction, a technical analogon of the nanoripples was produced by ultrashort pulse laser processing on different technically relevant metal surfaces in the form of so-called laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS). Subsequently, by means of a newly established peel-off test, the adhesion of an electrospun polyamide fiber-based nonwoven was quantified on such LIPSS-covered aluminium alloy, steel, and titanium alloy samples, as well as on polished (flat) control samples as reference and, additionally, on samples with randomly rough surfaces. The latter revealed that the adhesion of electrospun nanofiber nonwoven is significantly lowered on the nanostructured surfaces compared with the polished surfaces.
Laser-Induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS, ripples) are a universal phenomenon and can be generated in a contactless, single-step process on almost any material upon irradiation of solids with intense laser radiation. Nowadays, processing rates of up to m^2/min are enabling new industrial applications in medicine, optics, tribology, biology, etc. Depending on the specific type of LIPSS, their structural sizes typically range from several micrometers down to less than 100 nanometers – far beyond the optical diffraction limit – while their orientations exhibit a clear correlation with the local polarization direction of the laser radiation. From a theoretical point of view, however, a controversial and vivid debate has emerged during the last two decades, whether LIPSS originate from electromagnetic effects (seeded already during the laser irradiation) – or whether they emerge from matter reorganization processes, i.e. distinctly after the laser irradiation. This presentation reviews the currently existent theories of LIPSS. A focus is laid on the historic development of the fundamental ideas, their corresponding mathematical descriptions and numerical implementations, along with a comparison and critical assessment of the different approaches.
Ultrashort pulse laser processing can result in the secondary generation of unwanted X-rays if a critical laser irradiance of about 10^13 W/cm^2 is exceeded. Spectral X-ray emissions were investigated during the processing of tungsten and steel using three complementary spectrometers (based on CdTe and silicon drift detectors) simultaneously for the identification of a worst-case spectral scenario. Therefore, maximum X-ray photon energies were determined, and corresponding dose equivalent rates were calculated. An ultrashort pulse laser workstation with a pulse duration of 274 fs, a center wavelength of 1030 nm, pulse repetition rates between 50 kHz and 200 kHz, and a Gaussian laser beam focused to a spot diameter of 33 µm was employed in a single pulse and burst laser operation mode. Different combinations of laser pulse energy and repetition rate were utilized, keeping the average laser power constant close to the maximum power of 20 W. Peak irradiances ranging from 7.3 × 10^13 W/cm^2 up to 3.0 × 10^14 W/cm^2 were used. The X-ray dose equivalent rate increases for lower repetition rates and higher pulse energy if a constant average power is used. Laser processing with burst mode significantly increases the dose rates and the X-ray photon energies. A maximum X-ray photon energy of about 40 keV was observed for burst mode processing of tungsten with a repetition rate of 50 kHz and a peak irradiance of 3 × 10^14 W/cm^2.
The presentation reviews the BAM activities in the field of surface processing by ultrashort laser pulses. A focus is laid on the generation of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) which allow various surface functionalizations for applications in optics, tribology, liquid management, and medicine.
Laser-induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS, ripples) are a universal phenomenon and can be generated in a contactless, single-step process on almost any type of solid upon irradiation with intense laser pulses. They represent a (quasi-)periodic modulation of the surface topography in the form of a linear grating and are typically formed in a “self-ordered” way in the focus of a laser beam. Thus, they are often accompanying laser material processing applications. The structural sizes of LIPSS typically range from several micrometers down to less than 100 nanometers – far beyond the optical diffraction limit – while their orientations exhibit a clear correlation with the local polarization direction of the laser radiation. From a theoretical point of view, a controversial debate has emerged during the last decades, whether LIPSS originate from electromagnetic effects (seeded already during the laser irradiation) – or whether they emerge from matter-reorganization processes (distinctly after the laser irradiation). From a practical point of view, however, LIPSS represent a simple and robust way for the nanostructuring of solids that allows creating a wide range of different surface functionalities featuring applications in optics, tribology, medicine, energy technologies, etc. While the currently available laser and scanner technology already allows surface processing rates at the m^2/min level, industrial applications of LIPSS are sometimes limited by the complex interplay between the nanoscale surface topography and the specific surface chemistry. This typically manifests in difficulties to control the processing of LIPSS and in limitations to ensure the long-term stability of the created surface functions. This presentation reviews the currently existent theories of LIPSS. A focus is laid on the historic development of the fundamental ideas behind the LIPSS, their corresponding mathematical descriptions and numerical implementations, along with a comparison and critical assessment of the different approaches. Moreover, some unsolved scientific problems related to LIPSS are identified and the pending technological limitations are discussed. Hereby, it is intended to stimulate further research and developments in the field of LIPSS for overcoming these limitations and for supporting the transfer of the LIPSS technology into industry.
Laser-induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS): Mechanisms, Applications, and unsolved Problems
(2022)
Laser-induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS, ripples) are a universal phenomenon and can be generated in a contactless, single-step process on almost any type of solid upon irradiation with intense laser pulses. They represent a (quasi-)periodic modulation of the surface topography in the form of a linear grating and are typically formed in a “self-ordered” way in the focus of a laser beam. Thus, they are often accompanying laser material processing applications. The structural sizes of LIPSS typically range from several micrometers down to less than 100 nanometers – far beyond the optical diffraction limit – while their orientations exhibit a clear correlation with the local polarization direction of the laser radiation. From a theoretical point of view, a controversial debate has emerged during the last decades, whether LIPSS originate from electromagnetic effects (seeded already during the laser irradiation) – or whether they emerge from matter-reorganization processes (distinctly after the laser irradiation). From a practical point of view, however, LIPSS represent a simple and robust way for the nanostructuring of solids that allows creating a wide range of different surface functionalities featuring applications in optics, tribology, medicine, energy technologies, etc. While the currently available laser and scanner technology already allows surface processing rates at the m^2/min level, industrial applications of LIPSS are sometimes limited by the complex interplay between the nanoscale surface topography and the specific surface chemistry. This typically manifests in difficulties to control the processing of LIPSS and in limitations to ensure the long-term stability of the created surface functions. This presentation reviews the currently existent theories of LIPSS. A focus is laid on the historic development of the fundamental ideas behind the LIPSS, their corresponding mathematical descriptions and numerical implementations, along with a comparison and critical assessment of the different approaches. Moreover, some unsolved scientific problems related to LIPSS are identified and the pending technological limitations are discussed. Hereby, it is intended to stimulate further research and developments in the field of LIPSS for overcoming these limitations and for supporting the transfer of the LIPSS technology into industry
Antibiotic resistance is a growing global problem which poses a massive threat to human health. Although human activity contributes to the acceleration of the process, bacteria have a self-driven stabilisation mechanism to protect themselves from such and other external threats: biofilm formation. Nonetheless, it is the adhesion of a single bacterial cell to a surface that triggers the formation of such network of biomolecules and microorganisms, as well as its hazardous consequences. The main objective of this work was to quantify the adhesion force of a single E. coli cell on a Ti substrate via the AFM-related single-cell force spectroscopy, with both the cell and the substrate material being of high clinical relevance. A set of 25 x 25 force displacement curves was acquired with a maximum force of 3.2 nN without dwell time, yielding a topography map and an adhesion force map that showed to be correlated. A mean adhesion force of 0.85 ± 0.175 nN was measured and the presence of cell appendages on the bacterial cell wall was verified through individual force-displacement curves. Bacterial viability was assessed after the measurements via live/dead staining.
Laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) are a simple and robust route for the nanostructuring of solids that can create various surface functionalities featuring applications in optics, medicine, tribology, energy technologies, etc. While the current laser technologies already allow surface processing rates at the level of m2/min, industrial applications of LIPSS are sometimes hampered by the complex interplay between the nanoscale surface topography and the specific surface chemistry, as well as by limitations in controlling the processing of LIPSS and in the long-term stability of the created surface functions. This Perspective article aims to identify some open questions about LIPSS, discusses the pending technological limitations, and sketches the current state of theoretical modelling. Hereby, we intend to stimulate further research and developments in the field of LIPSS for overcoming these limitations and for supporting the transfer of the LIPSS technology into industry.
X-ray emission hazards from ultrashort pulsed laser material processing in an industrial setting
(2021)
Interactions between ultrashort laser pulses with intensities larger than 10^13 W/cm^2 and solids during material processing can lead to the emission of X-rays with photon energies above 5 keV, causing radiation hazards to operators. A framework for inspecting X-ray emission hazards during laser material processing has yet to be developed. One requirement for conducting radiation protection inspections is using a reference scenario, i.e., laser settings and process parameters that will lead to an almost constant and high level of X-ray emissions. To study the feasibility of setting up a reference scenario in practice, ambient dose rates and photon energies were measured using traceable measurement equipment in an industrial setting at SCHOTT AG. Ultrashort pulsed (USP) lasers with a maximum average power of 220 W provided the opportunity to measure X-ray emissions at laser peak intensities of up to 3.3 × 10^15 W/cm^2 at pulse durations of ~1 ps. The results indicate that increasing the laser peak intensity is insufficient to generate high dose rates. The investigations were affected by various constraints which prevented measuring high ambient dose rates. In this work, a list of issues which may be encountered when performing measurements at USP-laser machines in industrial settings is identified.
Ultrashort pulse laser materials processing can be accompanied by the production of X-rays. Small doses per laser pulse can accumulate to significant dose rates at high laser pulse repetition rates which may exceed the permitted X-ray limits for human exposure. Consequently, a proper radiation shielding must be considered in laser machining. A brief overview of the current state of the art in the field of undesired generation of X-ray radiation during ultrashort pulse laser material processing in air is presented.
Laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) are a universal phenomenon and can be generated on almost any material by irradiation with linearly polarized radiation. This chapter reviews the current state in the field of LIPSS, which are formed in a “self-ordered” way and are often accompanying materials processing applications. LIPSS can be produced in a single-stage process and enable surface nanostructuring and, in turn, adaption of optical, mechanical, and chemical surface properties. Typically, they feature a structural size ranging from several micrometers down to less than 100 nm and show a clear correlation with the polarization direction of the light used for their generation. Various types of LIPSS are classified, relevant control parameters are identified, and their material-specific formation mechanisms are analyzed for different types of inorganic solids, i.e., metals, semiconductors, and dielectrics. Finally, technological applications featuring surface functionalization in the fields of optics, fluidics, medicine, and tribology are discussed.
Spatial Period of Laser-Induced Surface Nanoripples on PET Determines Escherichia coli Repellence
(2021)
Bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation on surfaces are associated with persistent microbial contamination, biofouling, and the emergence of resistance, thus, calling for new strategies to impede bacterial surface colonization. Using ns-UV laser treatment (wavelength 248 nm and a pulse duration of 20 ns), laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) featuring different submicrometric periods ranging from ~210 to ~610 nm were processed on commercial poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) foils. Bacterial adhesion tests revealed that these nanorippled surfaces exhibit a repellence for E. coli that decisively depends on the spatial periods of the LIPSS with the strongest reduction (~91%) in cell adhesion observed for LIPSS periods of 214 nm. Although chemical and structural analyses indicated a moderate laser-induced surface oxidation, a significant influence on the bacterial adhesion was ruled out. Scanning electron microscopy and additional biofilm studies
using a pili-deficient E. coli TG1 strain revealed the role of extracellular appendages in the bacterial repellence observed here.
The study of laser-fabricated periodic nanostructures is one of the leading topics of today’s photonics research. Such structures on the surface of metals, semiconductors, dielectrics, or polymers can generate new material properties with special functionalities. Depending on the specific material parameters and the morphology of the structures, new devices such as microlasers, optical nanoswitches, optical storage devices, sensors or antifraud features can be realized. Furthermore, laser-generated surface textures can be used to improve the tribological properties of surfaces in contact and in relative motion—to reduce friction losses or wear, to modify the wettability or the cell and biofilm growth properties of surfaces through bioinspired laser engineering, for emerging medical applications, or as decoration elements for the refinement of precious goods.
This Special Issue “Laser-Generated Periodic Nanostructures” focuses on the latest experimental and theoretical developments and practical applications of laser-generated periodic structures that can be generated in a “self-organized” way (laser-induced periodic surface structures, LIPSS, ripples) or via laser interference-based direct ablation (often referred to as direct laser interference patterning, DLIP). 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, see www.mdpi.com/journal/nanomaterials/special_issues/laser-generated_periodic.
Review of x-ray exposure and safety issues arising from ultra-short pulse laser material processing
(2021)
Laser processing with ultra-short laser pulses enables machining of materials
with high accuracy and throughput. The development of novel laser Technologies with laser pulse repetition rates up to the MHz range opened the way for industrial manufacturing processes. From a radiological point of view this evolution is important, because x-ray radiation can be generated as an unwanted side effect in laser material processing. Even if the emitted x-ray dose per pulse is comparably low, the x-ray dose can become hazardous to health at high laser repetition rates. Therefore, radiation protection must be considered. This article provides an overview on the generation and detection of x-rays in laser material processing, as well as on the handling of this radiation risk in the framework of radiological protection.
Micro- and nanostructuring with laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) has been demonstrated to be feasible in a wide variety of materials including metals, semiconductors and dielectrics. Suitable processing regimes for flat, curved and complex surfaces have been identified for many materials, allowing the generation of diverse applications in fields such as optics, tribology and medicine, to name a few. A common side effect when producing such structures in air environment is the formation of a thin surface oxide layer in the laser irradiated areas. Previous studies have shown that oxidation plays an important role in the tribological performance for which the structures where created, and very recently it has been shown that the laser-induced oxide graded layers may contribute to the formation of a new type of embedded low-spatial frequency LIPSS (LSFL) with annomalous orientation parallel to the laser polarization, in addition to the appearance of the well-known high-spatial frequency LIPSS (HSFL) at the surface. In this contribution, we explore this effect experimentally for chromium nitride (CrN) irradiated with femtosecond laser pulses and compare the findings to finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations of the intensity distributions at different depth positions.
Different types of laser-generated surface structures, i.e., Laser-induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS, ripples), Grooves, and Spikes are generated on titanium and Ti6Al4V surfaces by means of femtosecond (fs) laser scan processing (790 nm, 30 fs, 1 kHz) in ambient air. Morphological, chemical and structural properties of the different surface structures are characterized by various surface analytical techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy (GD-OES), and depth-profiling Auger electron spectroscopy (AES). It is revealed that the formation of near-wavelength sized LIPSS is accompanied by the formation of a graded oxide extending several tens to a few hundreds of nanometers into depth. GD-OES performed on other superficial fs-laser generated structures produced at higher fluences and effective number of pulses per spot area such as periodic Grooves and irregular Spikes indicate even thicker graded oxide layers. These graded layers may be suitable for applications in prosthetics or tribology.
The role of electromagnetic scattering in the formation of laser-induced periodic surface structures
(2021)
Laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) are a universal phenomenon that is accompanying laser materials processing. These surface nanostructures pave a simple way for surface functionalization with numerous applications in optics, fluidics, tribology, medicine, etc. During the last decade remarkable experimental and theoretical improvements in understanding of their formation mechanisms were obtained - all pointing toward polarization-dependent energy deposition by absorption of optical radiation that is scattered at the surface roughness and interfering with the laser beam. This contribution reviews the current state-of-the-art on the role of electromagnetic scattering in the formation of LIPSS by ultrashort laser pulses. Special attention is drawn to recent finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) calculations that allow to visualize the radiation patterns formed in the vicinity of the sample surface and to the impact of a thin superficial laser-induced oxidation layer.
Laser-induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS, ripples) are a universal phenomenon and can be generated in a contactless, single-step process on almost any material upon irradiation of solids with intense laser radiation. Nowadays processing rates of up to m^2/min are enabling new industrial applications in medicine, optics, tribology, biology, etc. Depending on the specific type of LIPSS, their structural sizes typically range from several micrometers down to less than 100 nanometers – far beyond the optical diffraction limit – while their orientations exhibit a clear correlation with the local polarization direction of the laser radiation. From a theoretical point of view, however, a vivid, controversial, and long-lasting debate has emerged during the last two decades, whether LIPSS originate from electromagnetic effects (seeded already during the laser irradiation) – or whether they emerge from matter reorganization processes (distinctly after the laser irradiation). This presentation reviews the currently existent theories of LIPSS. A focus is laid on the historic development of the fundamental ideas, their corresponding mathematical descriptions and numerical implementations, along with a comparison and critical assessment of the different approaches.
Laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) are a universal phenomenon and can be generated on almost any material by irradiation with linearly polarized radiation. This chapter reviews the current state in the field of LIPSS, which are formed in a “self-ordered” way and are often accompanying materials processing applications. LIPSS can be produced in a single-stage process and enable surface nanostructuring and, in turn, adaption of optical, mechanical, and chemical surface properties. Typically, they feature a structural size ranging from several micrometers down to less than 100 nm and show a clear correlation with the polarization direction of the light used for their generation. Various types of LIPSS are classified, relevant control parameters are identified, and their material-specific formation mechanisms are analyzed for different types of inorganic solids, i.e., metals, semiconductors, and dielectrics. Finally, technological applications featuring surface functionalization in the fields of optics, fluidics, medicine, and tribology are discussed.
Single Femtosecond Laser-Pulse-Induced Superficial Amorphization and Re-Crystallization of Silicon
(2021)
Superficial amorphization and re-crystallization of silicon in <111> and <100> orientation after irradiation by femtosecond laser pulses (790 nm, 30 fs) are studied using optical imaging and transmission electron microscopy. Spectroscopic imaging ellipsometry (SIE) allows fast data acquisition at multiple wavelengths and provides experimental data for calculating nanometric amorphous layer thickness profiles with micrometric lateral resolution based on a thin-film layer model. For a radially Gaussian laser beam and at moderate peak fluences above the melting and below the ablation thresholds, laterally parabolic amorphous layer profiles with maximum thicknesses of several tens of nanometers were quantitatively attained. The accuracy of the calculations is verified experimentally by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (STEM-EDX). Along with topographic information obtained by atomic force microscopy (AFM), a comprehensive picture of the superficial re-solidification of silicon after local melting by femtosecond laser pulses is drawn.
Laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) are a universal phenomenon and can be generated on almost any material by irradiation with linearly polarized radiation. This chapter reviews the current state in the field of LIPSS, which are formed in a “self-ordered” way and are often accompanying materials processing applications. LIPSS can be produced in a single-stage process and enable surface nanostructuring and, in turn, adaption of optical, mechanical, and chemical surface properties. Typically, they feature a structural size ranging from several micrometers down to less than 100 nm and show a clear correlation with the polarization direction of the light used for their generation. Various types of LIPSS are classified, relevant control parameters are identified, and their material-specific formation mechanisms are analyzed for different types of inorganic solids, i.e., metals, semiconductors, and dielectrics. Finally, technological applications featuring surface functionalization in the fields of optics, fluidics, medicine, and tribology are discussed.
Nanotechnology and lasers are among the most successful and active fields of research and technology that have boomed during the past two decades. Many improvements are based on the controlled manufacturing of nanostructures that enable tailored material functionalization for a wide range of industrial applications, electronics, medicine, etc., and have already found entry into our daily life. One appealing approach for manufacturing such nanostructures in a flexible, robust, rapid, and contactless one-step process is based on the generation of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS). This Perspectives article analyzes the footprint of the research area of LIPSS on the basis of a detailed literature search, provides a brief overview on its current trends, describes the European funding strategies within the Horizon 2020 programme, and outlines promising future directions.
The exciting properties of micro- and nano-patterned surfaces found in natural species hide a virtually endless potential of technological ideas, opening new opportunities for innovation and exploitation in materials science and engineering. Due to the diversity of biomimetic surface functionalities, inspirations from natural surfaces are interesting for a broad range of applications in engineering, including phenomena of adhesion, friction, wear, lubrication, wetting phenomena, self-cleaning, antifouling, antibacterial phenomena, thermoregulation and optics. Lasers are increasingly proving to be promising tools for the precise and controlled structuring of materials at micro- and nano-scales. When ultrashort-pulsed lasers are used, the optimal interplay between laser and material parameters enables structuring down to the nanometer scale. Besides this, a unique aspect of laser processing technology is the possibility for material modifications at multiple (hierarchical) length scales, leading to the complex biomimetic micro- and nano-scale patterns, while adding a new dimension to structure optimization. This article reviews the current state of the art of laser processing methodologies, which are being used for the fabrication of bioinspired artificial surfaces to realize extraordinary wetting, optical, mechanical, and biological-active properties for numerous applications. The innovative aspect of laser functionalized biomimetic surfaces for a wide variety of current and future applications is particularly demonstrated and discussed. The article concludes with illustrating the wealth of arising possibilities and the number of new laser micro/nano fabrication approaches for obtaining complex high-resolution features, which prescribe a future where control of structures and subsequent functionalities are beyond our current imagination.
The invention of new miniaturized and smart medical implants continues in all medical fields, including miniaturized heart pacemakers. These implants often come with a titanium (Ti) casing, which may have to be removed after several months or years and shall therefore not be completely overgrown by cells or scar tissue after implantation. Scar tissue is mainly formed by fibroblast cells and extracellular matrix proteins like collagen produced by them. Suppression of fibroblast growth at Ti surfaces could be achieved by 800 nm femtosecond laser-ablation creating self-organized sharp spikes with dimensions in the 10 μm-range which are superposed by fine sub-μm parallel ripples. On flat Ti control samples, the best results regarding suppression of cell growth were obtained on spike-structures which were additionally electrochemically anodized under acidic conditions. When Ti cylinders with a diameter of 8 mm (similar as the pacemakers) were placed upright in a culture of murine fibroblasts, a multi-layer cell growth up to a height of at least 1.5 mm occurred within 19–22 days. We have demonstrated that a laser-structured and anodized ring around the Ti cylinder surface is an effective way to create a barrier that murine fibroblasts were not able to overgrow within this time.
Irradiation with a single spatially Gaussian-shaped nanosecond laser pulse in the melting regime can result in a characteristic annular change in the surface morphology of crystalline silicon. This has been verified experimentally in a variety of situations, where dimple-shaped surface topographies are produced. In a recent work we have investigated the induced changes in the surface topography upon exposure to wavelengths in the visible and near infrared spectral region. Irradiation in the UV requires a more detailed analysis due to the enhanced absorption of the material. In the present analysis, we determine under which conditions our previous model can be used and the corresponding results are presented.
Herein, Ti6Al4V alloy is surface modified by femtosecond laser ablation. The microstructure image obtained by secondary electron microscopy reveals a combination of micrometer spikes or cones superimposed by nanoripples (laser‐induced periodic surface structures). To make the surface hydrophilic, anodization is performed resulting in further smoothness of microstructure and a final thickness of 35 ± 4 nm is estimated for oxide produced after anodization at 10 V (scan rate = 0.1 V s−1) versus standard hydrogen electrode. The obtained electrochemically active surface area (ECSA) is approximately 8 times larger compared with flat mirror polished Ti6Al4V surface. Combined chemical analysis by Pourbaix diagram and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses reveal that titanium and aluminum are passivating into TiO2 and Al2O3, but the dissolution of aluminum in the form of solvated ion is inevitable. Finally, cell seeding experiments on anodized and laser‐treated titanium alloy samples show that the growth of murine fibroblast cells is significantly suppressed due to unique surface texture of the laser‐treated and anodized titanium alloy sample.
In recent years, the improved understanding of the formation of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) has led to an emerging variety of applications that modify the optical, mechanical, and chemical properties of many materials. Such structures strongly depend on the laser beam polarization and are formed usually after irradiation with ultrashort linearly polarized laser pulses. The most accepted explanation for the origin of the structures is based on the interference of the incident laser radiation with electromagnetic surface waves that propagate or scatter at the surface of the irradiated materials. This leads to an intensity modulation that is finally responsible for the selective ablation in the form of parallel structures with periods ranging from hundreds of nanometers up to some micrometers. The versatility when forming such structures is based on the high reproducibility with different wavelengths, pulse durations and repetition rate laser sources, customized micro- and nanometric spatial resolutions, and compatibility with industrially relevant processing speeds when combined with fast scanning devices. In this contribution, we review the latest applications in the rapidly emerging field of surface functionalization through LIPSS, including biomimetic functionalities on fluid transport, control of the wetting properties, specific optical responses in technical materials, improvement of tribological performance on metallic surfaces, and bacterial and cell growth for medical devices, among many others.
Hierarchical micro/-nanostructures were produced on polycarbonate polymer surfaces by employing a two-step UV-laser processing strategy based on the combination of Direct Laser Interference Patterning (DLIP) of gratings and pillars on the microscale (3 ns, 266 nm, 2 kHz) and subsequently superimposing Laser-induced Periodic Surface Structures (LIPSS; 7–10 ps, 350 nm, 100 kHz) which adds nanoscale surface features. Particular emphasis was laid on the influence of the direction of the laser beam polarization on the morphology of resulting hierarchical surfaces. Scanning electron and atomic force microscopy methods were used for the characterization of the hybrid surface structures. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) calculations of the laser intensity distribution on the DLIP structures allowed to address the specific polarization dependence of the LIPSS formation observed in the second processing step. Complementary chemical analyzes by micro-Raman spectroscopy and attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy provided in-depth information on the chemical and structural material modifications and material degradation imposed by the laser processing. It was found that when the linear laser polarization was set perpendicular to the DLIP ridges, LIPSS could be formed on top of various DLIP structures. FDTD calculations showed enhanced optical intensity at the topographic maxima, which can explain the dependency of the morphology of LIPSS on the polarization with respect to the orientation of the DLIP structures. It was also found that the degradation of the polymer was enhanced for increasing accumulated fluence levels.
Surface nanostructuring enables the manipulation of many essential surface properties. With the recent rapid advancements in laser technology, a contactless large‐area processing at rates of up to m2 s−1 becomes feasible that allows new industrial applications in medicine, optics, tribology, biology, etc. On the other hand, the last two decades enable extremely successful and intense research in the field of so‐called laser‐induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS, ripples). Different types of these structures featuring periods of hundreds of nanometers only—far beyond the optical diffraction limit—up to several micrometers are easily manufactured in a single‐step process and can be widely controlled by a proper choice of the laser processing conditions. From a theoretical point of view, however, a vivid and very controversial debate emerges, whether LIPSS originate from electromagnetic effects or are caused by matter reorganization. This article aims to close a gap in the available literature on LIPSS by reviewing the currently existent theories of LIPSS along with their numerical implementations and by providing a comparison and critical assessment of these approaches.
Laser material processing is an emerging technology that generates surface functionalities on the basis of optical, mechanical, or chemical properties. In the form of laser surface texturing (LST), it has attracted a remarkable amount of research to tailor surface properties towards various tribological applications. The main advantages of this single-step, laser-based technology are the contactless machining, featuring a high flexibility, efficiency, and speed, along with the excellent quality of the processed products. LST can be applied precisely localized to sub-micrometric areas, but, via laser beam scanning, it is also feasible for structuring large surface areas at the square meter size.
This Special Issue focuses on the latest developments concerning the tribological performance of laser-generated periodic surface nano- and microstructures and their applications. This includes the laser-based processing of different surface patterns, such as “self-organized” laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS, ripples), grooves, micro-spikes, hierarchical hybrid nano-/micro-structures, microfeatures generated by direct laser interference patterning (DLIP), or even dimples or other topographic geometries shaped by direct laser modification or ablation. The applications of these periodically nano- and micro-patterned surfaces may improve the lubricated or non-lubricated tribological performance of surfaces in conformal and even non-conformal contact through a reduction of wear, a variation of the coefficient of friction, altered load carrying capacity, etc., resulting in energy saving, improved reliability, increased lifetimes as well as durability, leading in turn to extended maintenance intervals/reduced down-time. This can be beneficial in terms of bearings, gears, engines, seals, cutting tools, or other tribological components. Fundamental aspects addressed may involve the investigation of the relevant physical and chemical effects accompanying the laser-generated nano- and microscale topographies, such as alterations of the material structures, the hardness, superficial oxidation, the role of additives contained in lubricants, surface wettability, micro-hydrodynamic effects, etc.
For this Special Issue we aim to attract both academic and industrial researchers and would like to provide a bridge between research in the fields of tribology and laser material processing in order to foster the current knowledge and present new ideas for future applications and new technologies.
In this contribution, chemical, structural, and mechanical alterations in various types of femtosecond laser-generated surface structures, i.e., laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS, ripples), Grooves, and Spikes on titanium alloy, are characterized by various surface analytical techniques, including X-ray diffraction and glow-discharge optical emission spectroscopy. The formation of oxide layers of the different laser-based structures inherently influences the friction and wear performance as demonstrated in oil-lubricated reciprocating sliding tribological tests (RSTTs) along with subsequent elemental mapping by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. It is revealed that the fs-laser scan processing (790 nm, 30 fs, 1 kHz) of near-wavelength-sized LIPSS leads to the formation of a graded oxide layer extending a few hundreds of nanometers into depth, consisting mainly of amorphous oxides. Other superficial fs-laser-generated structures such as periodic Grooves and irregular Spikes produced at higher fluences and effective number of pulses per unit area present even thicker graded oxide layers that are also suitable for friction reduction and wear resistance. Ultimately, these femtosecond laser-induced nanostructured surface layers efficiently prevent a direct metal-to-metal contact in the RSTT and may act as an anchor layer for specific wear-reducing additives contained in the used engine oil.
Ultrashort pulse laser processing of materials allows for precise machining with high accuracy. By increasing the repetition rate to several 100 kHz, laser machining becomes quick and cost-effective. Ultrafast laser processing at high repetition rates and peak intensities above 10^13 W/cm^2 can cause a potential hazard by generation of unwanted x-ray radiation. Therefore, radiation protection must be considered. For 925 fs pulse duration at a center wavelength of 1030 nm, the x-ray emission in air at a repetition rate of 400 kHz was investigated up to a
peak intensity of 2.6 × 10^14 W/cm^2. Based on the presented measurements, the properties of potential shielding materials will be discussed. By extending our previous works, a scaling of the x-ray radiation emission to higher peak intensities up to 10^15 W/cm^2 is described, and emitted x-ray doses are predicted.
The impact of femtosecond (fs) laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) on tribological properties was investigated for metal-reinforced ceramic composites (Al2O3-ZrO2-Nb). For this purpose, the metallic niobium (Nb) phase was selectively structured with LIPSS in an air environment with different values of the fs-laser peak fluence by near-infrared fs-laser radiation (λ = 1025 nm, τ = 300 fs, frep = 1 kHz), taking advantage of the different light absorption behavior of ceramic and metal. The tribological performance was evaluated by reciprocating sliding tests in a ball-on-disc configuration using Ringer's solution as lubricant. The surfaces were characterized before and after laser irradiation by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and by measuring the contact angle with Ringer's solution. The LIPSS formation resulted in an increased wetting of the surface with the lubricant. Moreover, the selectively structured composite surfaces revealed a coefficient of friction significantly reduced by a factor of ~3 when compared to the non-irradiated surface. Furthermore, the formation of a laser-induced oxidation layer was detected with NbO as the most prominent oxidation state. Selectively structured composites with outstanding mechanical properties and enhanced tribological performance are of particular interest for biomedical applications.
Laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) are a universal phenomenon that is accompanying laser materials processing. These surface nanostructures pave a simple way for surface functionalization with numerous applications in optics, fluidics, tribology, medicine, etc. This contribution reviews the current view on the role of electromagnetic scattering in the formation of LIPSS.
Irradiation with ultra-short (femtosecond) laser beams enables the generation of sub-wavelength laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) over large areas with controlled spatial periodicity, orientation, and depths affecting only a material layer on the sub-micrometer scale. This study reports on how fs-laser irradiation of commercially available Nb foil samples affects their superconducting behavior. DC magnetization and AC susceptibility measurements at cryogenic temperatures and with magnetic fields of different amplitude and orientation are thus analyzed and reported. This study pays special attention to the surface superconducting layer that persists above the upper critical magnetic field strength Hc2, and disappears at a higher nucleation field strength Hc3. Characteristic changes were distinguished between the surface properties of the laser-irradiated samples, as compared to the corresponding reference samples (non-irradiated). Clear correlations have been observed between the surface nanostructures and the nucleation field Hc3, which depends on the relative orientation of the magnetic field and the surface patterns developed by the laser irradiation.
Laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) are often present when processing solid targets with linearly polarized ultrashort laser pulses. The different irradiation parameters to produce them on metals, semiconductors and dielectrics have been studied extensively, identifying suitable regimes to tailor its properties for applications in the fields of optics, medicine, fluidics and tribology, to name a few. One important parameter widely present when exposing the samples to the high intensities provided by these laser pulses in air environment, that generally is not considered, is the formation of a superficial laser-induced oxide layer. In this paper, we fabricate LIPSS on a layer of the oxidation prone hard-coating material chromium nitride in order to investigate the impact of the laser-induced oxide layer on its formation. A variety of complementary surface analytic techniques were employed, revealing morphological, chemical and structural characteristics of well-known high-spatial frequency LIPSS (HSFL) together with a new type of low-spatial frequency LIPSS (LSFL) with an anomalous orientation parallel to the laser polarization. Based on this input, we performed finite-difference time-domain calculations considering a layered system resembling the geometry of the HSFL along with the presence of a laser-induced oxide layer. The simulations support a scenario that the new type of LSFL is formed at the interface between the laser-induced oxide layer and the non-altered material underneath. These findings suggest that LSFL structures parallel to the polarization can be easily induced in materials that are prone to oxidation.
Effects of laser-induced periodic surface structures on the superconducting properties of Niobium
(2020)
It is well known that the use of ultrashort (fs) pulsed lasers can induce the generation of (quasi-) periodic nanostructures (LIPSS, ripples) on the surface of many materials. Such nanostructures have also been observed in sample’s surfaces irradiated with UV lasers with a pulse duration of 300 ps. In this work, we compare the characteristics of these nanostructures on 1-mm and on 25-μm thick niobium sheets induced by 30 fs n-IR and 300 ps UV pulsed lasers. In addition to conventional continuous or burst mode processing configurations, two-dimensional laser beam and line scanning modes have been investigated in this work. The latter allows the processing of large areas with a more uniform distribution of nanostructures at the surface. The influence of the generated nanostructures on the superconducting properties of niobium has also been explored. For this aim, magnetic hysteresis loops have been measured at different cryogenic temperatures to analyse how these laser treatments affect the flux pinning behaviour and, in consequence, the superconductor’s critical current values. It was observed that laser treatments are able to modify the superconducting properties of niobium samples.