Laser patterning for the modification of copper's wettability: A systematic review

abstract

Laser patterning has emerged as a remarkable method for tuning the surface properties of materials, including metals such as copper and its alloys. The copper wettability can be precisely tailored - from superhydrophilic to superhydrophobic - using laser-based surface engineering techniques, unlocking transformative potential across a wide range of applications. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the application of laser technology in the modification of the wettability properties of copper surfaces. Particular attention is given to the evolution of the water contact angle over time of irradiated surfaces after air exposure, as well as to the mechanisms reported in the literature that explain wettability changes. In addition to laser irradiation, spanning wavelengths from ultraviolet to infrared and pulse widths from the nanoseconds to femtoseconds, several studies incorporate post-processing methods to achieve the desire performance, which are also discussed in this review. Moreover, the review highlights successful application of the laser-treated copper surfaces modified with wettability in areas such as oil-water separation, self-cleaning, anti-icing, sensing, heat transfer and microfluids, among others. Finally, a critical analysis of laser surface treatments and conventional chemical methods is performed.

keywords

NANOSECOND LASER; SUPERHYDROPHOBIC SURFACE; CORROSION-RESISTANCE; FACILE FABRICATION; METALLIC SURFACES; WATER; MIMICKING; MECHANISM; ROBUST; HYDROPHOBICITY

subject category

Chemistry; Materials Science; Physics

authors

Botas, AMP; Carvalho, AF; Yasakau, K; Ferreira, NM; Miranda, G; Costa, FM

Groups

G3 - Electrochemical Materials, Interfaces and Coatings

Projects

Collaboratory for Emerging Technologies, CoLab (EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES)

CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials R&D Unit Pluriannual Funding (CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials)

Associated Laboratory CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials (LA/P/0006/2020)

Sustainable Surface Treatments of Complex Shape Components for Transsectorial Industrial Innovation (SURE2COAT)

CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDB/50011/2020)

CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDP/50011/2020)

acknowledgements

This work was financed by national funds through FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology, I.P., under projects UID/50025 and Laboratorio Associado I3N-LA/P/0037/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/LA/P/0037/2020). This work was developed within the scope of the project CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials, UID/50011/2025 & LA/P/0006/2020 (DOI 10.54499/LA/P/0006/2020), financed by national funds through the FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC). This work was funded by the European Union (Grant Agreement number: 101091982 - SURE2COAT). KY ac-knowledges FCT for the researcher grant (2021.00842.CEECIND). This research was funded in whole or in part by the Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia, I.P. (FCT, https://ror.org/00snfqn58) under Grant (LA/P/0037/2020, UID/50025, UIDB/50011/2020 (DOI 10.54499/UIDB/50011/2020) UIDP/50011/2020 (DOI 10.54499/UIDP/50011/2020) & LA/P/0006/2020 (DOI 10.54499/LA/P/0006/2020)). For the purpose of Open Access, the author has applied a CC-BY public copyright license to any Author's Accepted Manuscript (AAM) version arising from this submission.