2.5D femtosecond laser microstructuring of complex surface patterns

Petelin, Jaka (author), Kočica, Jernej Jan (author), Mur, Jaka (author), Petkovšek, Rok (author)

Surface structuring aimed at improving aerodynamic, hydrodynamic, and wetting properties has gained traction as methods of material processing evolved and the need for highly efficient manufacturing manifested. Femtosecond laser processing has matured as a manufacturing method but remains limited in throughput and scalability due to the high precision required. Here we present a new concept for 2.5-dimensional surface structuring that simultaneously improves processing throughput and precision compared to traditional laser surface structuring approaches, leveraging the pulse-on-demand capabilities of the latest femtosecond laser sources. The approach is compatible with any repeatable and predictable scanning system, where we demonstrate an up to 10-fold increase in processing throughput compared to standard layer-by-layer material removal. Moreover, the precise pulse emission timing enables near-continuous variation in the laser pulse repetition rate, achieving pulse positioning precision equivalent to 30 ns timing steps. Further, we measure the material-dependent ablation response to changing laser pulse repetition rates, identifying intervals where the material removal rate is linearly scalable with the repetition rate while preserving the intrinsic high-quality of ultra-short laser processing. The proof of concept is a single-step femtosecond laser processing of surfaces based on a depth-encoded image input.

• Language: English
• Keywords: femtosecond laser, laser microstructuring, pulse-on-demand, biomimetic surfaces, complex patterns
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 6 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 61, art. 106099
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-167699
• UDC: 621.375.826
• ISSN on article: 2468-0230
• DOI: 10.1016/j.surfin.2025.106099
• COBISS.SI-ID: 228300035
• Publication date in RUL: 07.03.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Surfaces and interfaces
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 2468-0230
• COBISS.SI-ID: 526516249

Licences

• License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
• Description: The most restrictive Creative Commons license. This only allows people to download and share the work for no commercial gain and for no other purposes.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: femtosekundni laser, lasersko mikrostrukturiranje, pulz na zahtevo, biomimetične površine, kompleksni vzorci