The Effect of Combining Femtosecond Laser and Electron Irradiation on Silica Glass.

This study investigates the structural and optical responses of silica glass to femtosecond (fs) laser irradiation followed by high-energy electron (2.5 MeV, 4.9 GGy) irradiation.

Nano-FTIR spectroscopy reveals SiO densification within fs-laser induced nanogratings.

This study explores the structural transformations induced by femtosecond (fs) laser inscriptions in glass, with a focus on type II modifications (so-called nanogratings), crucial for advanced optical and photonic technologies. Our novel approach employs scattering-type scanning near-field optical microscopy (s-SNOM) and synchrotron radiation nanoscale Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (nano-FTIR) to directly assess the nanoscale structural changes in the laser tracks, potentially offering a comprehensive understanding of the underlying densification mechanisms. The results reveal the first direct nanoscale evidence of densification driven by HP-HT within fs-laser inscribed tracks, characterized by a significant shift of the main infrared (IR) vibrational structural band of silica glass.

Laser-Assisted Structures for Efficient Fluid Management on Stainless Steel Surfaces.

The article presents a high-productivity laser-structuring method combined with a hydrophobic post-treatment to create zone-structured surfaces with a decreasing wetting angle on AISI 304 stainless steel surfaces. We have investigated the impact of laser processing modes and hydrophobic substances on wetting and hysteresis angles and successfully demonstrated autonomous droplet movement over this zone-structured surface. A critical condition for autonomous fluid flow is the need for the drop to touch the boundary between the two zones.

Impact of Glass Free Volume on Femtosecond Laser-Written Nanograting Formation in Silica Glass.

In this study, we investigate the effects of densification through high pressure and temperature (up to 5 GPa, 1000 °C) in the making of nanogratings in pure silica glass, inscribed with femtosecond laser. The latter were monitored through retardance measurements using polarized optical microscopy, and their internal structure was observed under scanning electron microscopy. We reveal the difficulty in making nanogratings in densified silica glasses.

Nanoscale investigations of femtosecond laser induced nanogratings in optical glasses.

Femtosecond (fs) laser irradiation inside transparent materials has drawn considerable interest over the past two decades. More specifically, self-assembled nanogratings, induced by fs laser direct writing (FLDW) inside glass, enable a broad range of potential applications in optics, photonics, or microfluidics. In this work, a comprehensive study of nanogratings formed inside fused silica by FLDW is presented based on high-resolution electron microscopy imaging techniques.