LP / Laser Processing

Laser processing is a single-step, maskless, tabletop method to create quasi-uniformly micro/nano-patterned surfaces over large areas. Surface micro/nano-patterning is a low-cost and rapid alternative to lithographic methods when precision and uniformity requirements are not highly demanding. A laser beam is focused on the surface of a solid material in air, vacuum, gas, or liquid environment and the laser parameters are optimized for scribing, surface texturing, micro/nanostructure formation, nanoparticle creation, etc. The sample can be translated with respect to the laser beam for large-area processing and there is no inherent limitation on the size of the processed area. Therefore, this method is scalable for real-world applications.

The home-built workstation includes a nanosecond Nd:YAG laser system (1064 and 532 nm) and optics, a vacuum chamber for processing in a gas atmosphere, and two xy computer-controlled motorized translation stages for large area processing.