High-power ultrashort pulsed laser for the efficient micro/nano structuring of surfaces

• Subject Area: Materials Science
• Term: Funded in 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 432740785

Bio-inspired surface structures, containing features in the nanometre/micrometre scales, offer significant potential for the creation of functionalized surfaces. In this aim, technologies to modify surfaces instead of creating composites or spreading coatings on surfaces can offer new opportunities (e.g. long-term stable surfaces and more environmental friendly processes). In particular, laser surface texturing has shown to be capable obtaining advanced functionalities, especially when sources operating at pulse durations of nanosecond (short) and picosecond and femtosecond (ultrashort) are used. With the existing state-of-the-art, today it is possible to produce high-resolution surface patterns with advanced functionalities but at very low processing speeds. In this context, to ensure the high-throughput laser based structuring process of different substrates, a high-power ultrashort-pulse laser system is required. This laser system will be combined with diverse beam-manipulation systems enabling fabrication of complex surface patterns with high resolution. In this way, it will be possible to produce textured surface topographies for improving a large amount of functions. The system will also be used for structuring tools which are utilized in embossing processes (e.g. plate-to-plate hot embossing). In addition, the system will also be combined with interference optics, permitting to produce multiple-scale surface textures in a one-step process.

• DFG Programme: Major Research Instrumentation
• Major Instrumentation: Hochleistungs-Ultrakurzpulslaser zur effizienten Mikro-/Nanostrukturierung von Oberflächen
• Instrumentation Group: 5700 Festkörper-Laser
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität Dresden
• Leader: Professor Dr.-Ing. Andrés Fabián Lasagni