Influence of Chemistry and Topography on the Wettability of Copper

TL;DR

This study investigates how surface chemistry and topography influence copper's wettability, demonstrating that laser-created patterns and chemical adsorption layers can be precisely tuned to modify water contact angles and adhesion.

Contribution

The paper introduces a multi-step experimental approach combining chemical analysis and laser patterning to control and understand copper surface wettability.

Findings

Wetting response stabilizes over time despite hydrocarbon accumulation.

Laser patterning can tailor surface wettability and anisotropy.

Pattern morphology and aspect ratio significantly influence water adhesion and hydrophobicity.

Abstract

To understand the complex interplay of topography and surface chemistry in wetting, fundamental studies investigating both parameters are needed. Due to the sensitivity of wetting to miniscule changes in one of the parameters it is imperative to precisely control the experimental approach. A profound understanding of their influence on wetting facilitates a tailored design of surfaces with unique functionality. We present a multi-step study: The influence of surface chemistry is analyzed by determining the adsorption of volatile carbonous species (A) and by sputter deposition of metallic copper and copper oxides on flat copper substrates (B). A precise surface topography is created by laser processing. Isotropic topography is created by ps laser processing (C), and hierarchical anisotropic line patterns are produced by direct laser interference patterning (DLIP) with different pulse durations (D). Our results reveal that the long-term wetting response of polished copper surfaces stabilizes with time despite ongoing accumulation of hydrocarbons and is dominated by this adsorption layer over the oxide state of the substrate (Cu, CuO, Cu2O). The surfaces' wetting response can be precisely tuned by tailoring the topography via laser processing. The sub-pattern morphology of primary line-like patterns showed great impact on the static contact angle, wetting anisotropy, and water adhesion. An increased roughness inside the pattern valleys combined with a minor roughness on the peaks favors air-inclusions, isotropic hydrophobicity, and low water adhesion. Increasing the aspect ratio showed to enhance air-inclusions and hydrophobicity despite increased peak roughness while time dependent wetting transitions were observed.