Self‐Organized Periodic Microholes Array Formation on Aluminum Surface via Femtosecond Laser Ablation Induced Incubation Effect

Abstract

Laser surface structuring has been demonstrated to be a versatile technology to create various functional materials by modifying solid surface properties. An interesting experimental phenomenon of self-organized periodic microholes array formation is demonstrated by exposing an aluminum surface to femtosecond laser irradiation. The microholes with a diameter much smaller than focal laser spot size are produced along laser scan paths due to the incubation effect of multiple laser scans, and they spontaneously form a highly ordered microholes array after 80 scans. It is found that the microhole period and diameter are highly dependent on laser fluence, and controllable microholes arrays with different periods and diameters are achieved by adjusting laser fluence. The physical mechanism behind the formation of the microholes array is attributed to femtosecond laser-induced melting and Marangoni effect. The research provides a novel processing approach to achieve controllable microholes surface materials fabrication at a high speed on metal substrates, which are of great interests for various technological applications.

Femtosecond Laser Precision Engineering: From Micron, Submicron, to Nanoscale

“…The incubation effect is attributed to an improvement of laser energy absorption and the increase of the target surface roughness with continuous pulses. As shown in Figure 2(b), Liu et al reported an interesting experimental phenomenon of self-assembly periodic microhole array creation on Al surface by multiple 800 nm femtosecond laser scanning [48]. The size, shape, and arrangement of such microholes are uniform and tunable, which is different from the hole structures with random distribution in the previous reports.…”

Femtosecond laser‐produced optical absorbers for solar‐thermal energy harvesting

“…In either case, the size and density of nanostructures that will be produced at a given position depend on the laser irradiance and the number of laser pulses that will get delivered at that position. 60,61 Laser pulse energy, pulse duration, scan speed, and distance between lines are experimental parameters to control the size and density of micro/nanostructures on the laser processed surfaces and thus spectral absorbance. 38,39 Larger laser irradiance and/or slow scan speed can produce deeper microgrooves and larger sizes of nanoparticles, while lower laser irradiance and/or faster scan speed can produce shallow microgrooves and smaller sizes of nanoparticles.…”

Recent advances and progresses in photonic devices for passive radiative cooling application: a review

“…The femtosecond laser technique can also be used to create nanoholes array in aluminum film. 134 Similarly, the 1D nanophotonic structures seem to be better as their fabrication is quite simpler than alternate 2D and 3D nanophotonic structures. Additionally, largescale production is also difficult to achieve at present.…”