Static Hydrophobic Cuprous Oxide Surface Fabricated via One-Step Laser-Induced Oxidation of a Copper Substrate

In this study, we developed a one-step method for fabricating hydrophobic surfaces on copper (Cu) substrates. Cuprous oxide (Cu₂O) with low free energy was successfully formed after low-fluence laser direct irradiation. The formation of Cu₂O enhanced the hydrophobicity of the Cu substrate surface, and the contact angle linearly increased with the proportion of Cu₂O. The Cu₂O fabricated by low-fluence laser treatment showed the same crystal plane orientation as the pristine Cu substrate, implying an epitaxial growth of Cu₂O on a Cu substrate.