Ultrafast Laser Surface Engineering for Multifunctional Property Enhancement

Surface properties play a critical role in determining the performance, reliability, and lifetime of materials in a wide range of applications. Ultrafast laser processing has emerged as a powerful tool for surface engineering due to its unique interaction with materials, allowing simultaneous improvement of multiple surface properties and the creation of multifunctional surfaces. This work presents recent advances in ultrafast laser surface engineering of materials aimed at enhancing mechanical and functional surface properties through controlled micro- and nanoscale modifications.

Using femtosecond laser irradiation, two complementary approaches are explored: ultrafast laser shock peening and laser surface structuring. Ultrafast laser shock peening introduces high-amplitude shock waves that generate compressive residual stresses and tailored defect structures, leading to significant improvements in hardness, toughness, corrosion and fatigue resistance. In parallel, femtosecond laser surface structuring enables the fabrication of hierarchical micro/nanostructures that impart multifunctional surface properties. By controlling laser parameters and scanning strategies, surfaces with tunable wettability, optical response, and tribological behavior can be achieved. Such laser-induced textures can produce superhydrophobic or superhydrophilic surfaces, improve friction and wear, and tailor optical absorptivity or emissivity for applications ranging from thermal management to sensing.

The combined capability of ultrafast laser shock processing and surface structuring provides a versatile platform for engineering multifunctional surfaces without coatings or additional materials. These results highlight the potential of ultrafast laser surface engineering as a scalable strategy for improving the performance and durability of advanced materials in aerospace, energy, biomedical, and manufacturing applications.