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Laser turns silicon superwicking

Opt Express. 2010 Mar 29;18(7):6455-60. doi: 10.1364/OE.18.006455.

Abstract

Using high-intensity femtosecond laser pulses, we create a novel surface pattern that transforms regular silicon to superwicking. Due to the created surface structure, water sprints vertically uphill in a gravity defying way. Our study of the liquid motion shows that the fast self-propelling motion of water is due to a supercapillary effect from the surface structures we created. The wicking dynamics in the produced surface structure is found to follow the classical square root of time dependence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Biophysics / methods
  • Lasers
  • Materials Testing
  • Microfluidics / methods
  • Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / methods
  • Nanotechnology / methods
  • Physics / methods
  • Semiconductors
  • Silicon / chemistry
  • Surface Properties
  • Time Factors
  • Water / chemistry*

Substances

  • Water
  • Silicon