Scalable Wettability Modification of Aluminum Surface through Single-Shot Nanosecond Laser Processing

Conversion of a regular metal surface to a superhydrophobic one has great appeal because of the wide range of potential applications such as anti-fouling, anti-corrosion, and anti-icing. One promising technique is to modify surface wettability by laser processing to form nano-micro hierarchical structures with various patterns, such as pillars, grooves, and grids, followed by an aging process in the air or additional chemical processes. Surface processing is typically a lengthy process. Herein, we demonstrate a facile laser technique that converts the surface wettability of aluminum from inherently hydrophilic to hydrophobic and superhydrophobic with single-shot nanosecond laser irradiation. A single shot covers a fabrication area of approximately 19.6 mm². The resultant hydrophobic and superhydrophobic effects persisted after six months. The effect of the incident laser energy on the surface wettability is studied, and the underlying mechanism of the wettability conversion through single-shot irradiation is suggested. The obtained surface shows a self-cleaning effect and the control of water adhesion. The single-shot nanosecond laser processing technique promises a fast and scalable method to produce laser-induced surface superhydrophobicity.