Surface free energy modification using femtosecond laser pulses (fsPLE)

   

Project no.: 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-16-0198

Project description:

Self-cleaning, non-icing, biologically inert surfaces are getting more and more attention due to number of application fields. Morphology is playing a huge role on mechanical, optical, wettability propeties, etc. of the surface. In recent years’ surface modification/structurization employing femtosecond laser pulses attracts more attention due to versatility of the method. This method can be used for structurization of different materials (such as polymer, metals, dielectrics) that further can be used in photonics, plasmonics, optoelectronics, sensors, etc. During structurization one can induce micro and nanosized patterns in the surface what leads to change of surface wettability. During the research, student will deposit diamond like carbon and diamond like carbon nanocomposites by vacuum deposition on metallic surfaces and perform the modification of surface with ultrashort laser pulses. During experiments, he will be able to determine the optimal modification parameters needed to control the surface free energy of the investigated surfaces.

Project funding:

Project is funded by EU Structural Funds according to the 2014–2020 Operational Programme for the European Union Funds’ Investments priority “Development of scientific competence of researchers, other researchers, students through practical scientific activities” under Measure No. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712.


Project results:

Student will get acquainted with vacuum deposition of diamond like carbon (DLC) and DLC nanocomposites and will deposit such films on metallic surfaces. By performing structurization experiments using ultrafast laser student will be able to select optimal laser fabrication parameters and analyse the surface wettability and ageing of the films after structurization.

Period of project implementation: 2019-10-15 - 2020-04-30

Project coordinator: Kaunas University of Technology

Head:
Asta Tamulevičienė, Asta Tamulevičienė

Duration:
2019 - 2020

Department:
Institute of Materials Science, Department of Physics, Research Laboratory of Vacuum and Plasma Processes, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences