Femtosecond laser constructed anti-pollution silica glass surfaces with high-viscosity-oil adhesion prevention

Abstract

Transparent surfaces with anti-pollution and anti-adhesive properties show promise for optical windows. However, there is currently no effective way to create glass surfaces that are impervious to highly viscous and sticky oils, like crude oil. In this research, an electrical-heating silica glass with resistance to high viscosity oil was prepared using a femtosecond laser process. An inner micro-channel system was fabricated by the femtosecond laser wet etching method, and the surface was treated to be superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic through femtosecond laser irradiation. The prepared sample could be electrically heated by its internal heating unit, which could reduce the viscosity of the crude oil. Thus, the prepared sample is resistant not only to typically low-viscosity oils, but also prevents the adhesion of crude oil, which would be widely applied in anti-pollution optical windows.