This work systematically investigates the evolution from superhydrophilic to superhydrophobic surface state on corrosion behaviour of SS316L produced by Nd:YAG nanosecond direct laser texturing (DLT). Results confirm perfect correlation among wettability and corrosion, hence superhydrophobic surface with a contact angle of 169° reflects in enhanced passivity, lower anodic dissolution and corrosion current reduction. Characterization of the corrosion attack by 3D microscopy reveals high sensitivity of superhydrophilic surfaces on corrosion propagation direction in regard to the laser beam passage (90°/0°). However, this trend completely diminishes with superhydrophobic development. Further, DLT also completely prohibits intergranular corrosion detected with the non-processed sample.

This work investigates the influence of the direct laser texturing at high fluences (DLT-HF) on surface topography, chemistry and wettability. We use a Nd:YAG laser ( = 1064 nm) with pulse duration of 95 ns to process stainless steel surface. The surface morphology and chemistry after the texturing is examined by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), while the surface wettability is evaluated by measuring the static contact angle. Immediately after the texturing, the surface is superhydrophilic in a saturated Wenzel regime. However, this state is not stable and the superhydrophilic-to-superhydrophobic transition happens if the sample is kept in atmospheric air for 30 days. After this period, the laser textured stainless steel surface expresses lotus-leaf like behavior. By using a high-speed camera at 10,000 fps we measured that the water droplet completely rebound from this superhydrophobic surface after the contact time of 12 ms. PACS numbers 81.16.-c (Methods of micro-and nanofabrication and processing) 68.08.Bc (Wetting in liquid-solid interfaces) 79.20.Eb (Ablation laser impact on surfaces) 42.62.Cf (Laser beam machining)

Controlling the surface wettability represents an important challenge in the field of surface functionalization. Here, the wettability of a stainless-steel surface is modified by 30-ns pulses of a Nd:YAG marking laser (λ = 1064 nm) with peak fluences within the range 3.3–25.1 J cm−2. The short- (40 days), intermediate- (100 days) and long-term (1 year) superhydrophilic-to-(super)hydrophobic transition of the laser-textured surfaces exposed to the atmospheric air is examined by evaluating its wettability in the context of the following parameters: (i) pulse fluence; (ii) scan line separation; (iii) focal position and (iv) wetting period due to contact angle measurements. The results show that using solely a short-term evaluation can lead to wrong conclusions and that the faster development of the hydrophobicity immediately after laser texturing usually leads to lower final contact angle and vice versa, the slower this transition is, the more superhydrophobic the surface is expected to become (possibly even with self-cleaning ability). Depending on laser fluence, the laser-textured surfaces can develop stable or unstable hydrophobicity. Stable hydrophobicity is achieved, if the threshold fluence of 12 J cm−2 is exceeded. We show that by nanosecond-laser texturing a lotus-leaf-like surface with a contact angle above 150° and roll-off angle below 5° can be achieved.

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Functionalized interfaces enhancing phase-change processes have immense applicability in thermal management. Here, a methodology for fabrication of surfaces enabling extreme boiling heat transfer performance is demonstrated, combining direct nanosecond laser texturing and chemical vapor deposition of a hydrophobic fluorinated silane. Multiple strategies of laser texturing are explored on aluminum with subsequent nanoscale hydrophobization. Both superhydrophilic and superhydrophobic surfaces with laser-engineered microcavities exhibit significant enhancement of the pool boiling heat transfer. Surfaces with superhydrophobic microcavities allow for enhancements of a heat transfer coefficient of over 500%. Larger microcavities with a mean diameter of 4.2 μm, achieved using equidistant laser scanning separation, induce an early transition into the favorable nucleate boiling regime, while smaller microcavities with a mean diameter of 2.8 μm, achieved using variable separation, provide superior performance at high heat fluxes. The enhanced boiling performance confirms that the Wenzel wetting regime is possible during boiling on apparently superhydrophobic surfaces. A notable critical heat flux enhancement is demonstrated on superhydrophobic surfaces with an engineered microstructure showing definitively the importance and concomitant effect of both the surface wettability and topography for enhanced boiling. The fast, low-cost, and repeatable fabrication process has great potential for advanced thermal management applications.

Background The purpose of this work is to provide experimental evidence on the interactions of suspended nanoparticles with artificial or biological membranes and to assess the possibility of suspended nanoparticles interacting with the lipid component of biological membranes. Methods 1-Palmitoyl-2-oleoyl- sn -glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) lipid vesicles and human red blood cells were incubated in suspensions of magnetic bare cobalt ferrite (CoFe 2 O 4 ) or citric acid (CA)-adsorbed CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles dispersed in phosphate-buffered saline and glucose solution. The stability of POPC giant unilamellar vesicles after incubation in the tested nanoparticle suspensions was assessed by phase-contrast light microscopy and analyzed with computer-aided imaging. Structural changes in the POPC multilamellar vesicles were assessed by small angle X-ray scattering, and the shape transformation of red blood cells after incubation in tested suspensions of nanoparticles was observed using scanning electron microscopy and sedimentation, agglutination, and hemolysis assays. Results Artificial lipid membranes were disturbed more by CA-adsorbed CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticle suspensions than by bare CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticle suspensions. CA-adsorbed CoFe 2 O 4 -CA nanoparticles caused more significant shape transformation in red blood cells than bare CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles. Conclusion Consistent with their smaller sized agglomerates, CA-adsorbed CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles demonstrate more pronounced effects on artificial and biological membranes. Larger agglomerates of nanoparticles were confirmed to be reactive against lipid membranes and thus not acceptable for use with red blood cells. This finding is significant with respect to the efficient and safe application of nanoparticles as medicinal agents.

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In this study we report the influence of laser ablation on the controlled biodegradability of a Fe-Mn alloy developed for medical implants. After texturing by a nanosecond Nd:YAG laser, the surface expressed extreme super-hydrophilic wetting properties, since laser ablation led to micro-channels and chemical modification resulting in nanostructured metal oxides. The influence of functionalized surface properties on corrosion behaviour was examined on molecular level by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Results reveal that the oxide layer after the laser texturing of Fe-Mn alloy consists mainly of Fe 2 O 3 and FeO, with the content of Mn in the oxide layer being significantly higher than in the bulk. The results of the electrochemical measurements clearly demonstrate the superior biodegradability of the Fe-Mn alloy samples functionalized by laser ablation. Here, the laser-triggered corrosion is selfdriven by further production of corrosion products that leads to biodegradability of the whole sample.