Abstract
Laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) are a simple and robust route for the nanostructuring of solids that can create various surface functionalities featuring applications in optics, medicine, tribology, energy technologies, etc. While the current laser technologies already allow surface processing rates at the level of m2/min, industrial applications of LIPSS are sometimes hampered by the complex interplay between the nanoscale surface topography and the specific surface chemistry, as well as by limitations in controlling the processing of LIPSS and in the long-term stability of the created surface functions. This Perspective article aims to identify some open questions about LIPSS, discusses the pending technological limitations, and sketches the current state of theoretical modelling. Hereby, we intend to stimulate further research and developments in the field of LIPSS for overcoming these limitations and for supporting the transfer of the LIPSS technology into industry.
Highlights
Inspired by the historic idea of David Hilbert to formulate and collect the most relevant open problems in his field [1], we aim to provide here a list of currently open questions related to the research and technology of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS, sometimes referred to as ripples)
While initially seen as an unexpected effect during the early developments of lasers [3], and later rather as a side-effect reducing the precision of materials processing [4], the Laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS) phenomenon is currently considered a simple nanostructuring approach that—if properly controlled—may enable a plethora of promising technical, biological, or medical applications via tailored surface functionalization [5,6,7]
Some immanent problems should be overcome. This list of ten open questions must be a subjective compilation of the authors and, this article is formulated as a “Perspective.” With this paper, we complement and extend our previous review articles [5,6,7,8,9,10,11] and hope to contribute to the identification of relevant open and partly controversially discussed questions in the field of LIPSS, while simultaneously stimulating further research activities in our community that are helping to resolve barriers, which currently prevent the LIPSS technology from widely entering into industrial applications
Summary
Inspired by the historic idea of David Hilbert to formulate and collect the most relevant open problems in his field [1], we aim to provide here a list of currently open questions related to the research and technology of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS, sometimes referred to as ripples). This list of ten open questions must be a subjective compilation of the authors and, this article is formulated as a “Perspective.” With this paper, we complement and extend our previous review articles [5,6,7,8,9,10,11] and hope to contribute to the identification of relevant open and partly controversially discussed questions in the field of LIPSS, while simultaneously stimulating further research activities in our community that are helping to resolve barriers, which currently prevent the LIPSS technology from widely entering into industrial applications.
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