Scientists at the URochester have used lasers to transform metals into extremely water repellent, or super-hydrophobic, materials without the need for temporary coatings.<\/p>\n
Super-hydrophobic materials are desirable for a number of applications such as rust prevention, anti-icing, or even in sanitation uses. However, as Rochester\u2019s Chunlei Guo explains, most current hydrophobic materials rely on chemical coatings.<\/p>\n
In a paper<\/a> published in January 2015 in the Journal of Applied Physics<\/em>, Guo and his colleague at the University\u2019s Institute of Optics, Anatoliy Vorobyev, describe a powerful and precise laser-patterning technique that creates an intricate pattern of micro- and nanoscale structures to give the metals their new properties. This work builds on earlier research by the team in which they used a similar laser-patterning technique that turned metals black<\/a>. Guo states that using this technique they can create multifunctional surfaces that are not only super-hydrophobic but also highly-absorbent optically.<\/p>\n