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Femtosecond laser pulse surface structuring methods and materials resulting therefrom

  • US 8,685,185 B2
  • Filed: 10/05/2011
  • Issued: 04/01/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method for treating a metal or metal alloy to modify optical properties of the metal or metal alloy, the method comprising:

  • exposing a surface region of the metal or metal alloy to one or more femtosecond duration laser pulses sufficient to alter a surface structure of the metal or metal alloy to form a plurality of nanoscale structure shapes on the surface region;

    wherein the surface region has a pre-laser treatment surface profile, the metal or metal alloy having a first electromagnetic absorption for the pre-laser treatment surface profile;

    wherein the plurality of nanoscale structure shapes formed by the one or more femtosecond duration laser pulses include a plurality of nanoscale cavities extending inwardly into the pre-laser treatment surface profile and a plurality of nanoscale protrusions extending outwardly away from the pre-laser treatment surface profile;

    wherein the formed nanoscale structure shapes increase the absorption of at least some electromagnetic wavelengths of the metal or metal alloy so that the metal or metal alloy has a second electromagnetic absorption greater than the first electromagnetic absorption.

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