Durable self-cleaning anti-fog and antireflective titanium-based micro-nano structures on glass by laser marker ablation

Abstract

Hierarchical micro-nano structured glass surfaces were produced by a low-cost laser marker ablation of Titanium-coated glass. The samples were systematically analyzed in terms of composition, structure, morphology, transparency, and anti-fog performance. The influences of varying laser scan hatch distance and Titanium (Ti) coating thickness on the resulting surface properties were studied. The results showed that the surface exhibited a 30 μm-sized periodic hillock-hollow micro-structure, with widely dispersed nanoparticles of approximately 50 nm in diameter all over the micro-structure. The most favorable surface characteristics were achieved with a 250 nm Ti coating and a 0.03 mm hatch distance, resulting in a notable enhancement of the average transmission of the glass by 1.29 % over a wide spectral range spanning from 400 nm to 1100 nm. Additionally, the treated surface exhibited super-hydrophilicity, evidenced by a contact angle of 0°, thereby demonstrating excellent anti-fog performance in fog tests that remained effective for an impressive duration of 318 days. It also exhibits exceptional anti-fouling and self-cleaning attributes, which remain effective over a span of 459 days. This outstanding antifog self-cleaninng performance and broadband transmission enhancement was, for the first time, co-achieved for laser treated glass. These accomplishments hold substantial practical relevance in diverse applications.