Fabrication of Superhydrophobic Micro/Nanostructures of Titanium Alloy by Femtosecond Laser.

Titanium alloy plays an important role in many high-tech and industrial fields, and its surface processing is vital for expanding the application range and improving its performance. In this work, an effective method for the fabrication of superhydrophobic micro/nanostructures on a titanium alloy surface by a femtosecond laser with ink-assisted light absorption is proposed. The effect of processing parameters of laser cross-line scanning on the morphology and contact angle of surface micro/nanostructures of titanium alloy is revealed. Meanwhile, the change of surface chemical composition of the titanium alloy surface processed by a femtosecond laser is investigated, indicating the surface passivation caused by oxidation during laser processing, which will enhance its corrosion resistance. The greatest contact angle of 152° is successfully attained, giving the titanium alloy's surface exceptional hydrophobic qualities. This work proves the ability of femtosecond laser processing on regulating micro/nanostructure and wetting property of the titanium alloy surface, which can further promote the application potential of titanium alloy in aerospace, marine engineering, biomedicine, and other fields.