Controlling surface wettability in methacrylic copolymer containing azobenzene by fs-laser microstructuring

Abstract Wettability control and optimization are of high significance in various applications given its relevance in fundamental research as well as applications. Controlled wetting behavior can be obtained by femtosecond laser surface micromachining: a single step remarkable process, without contact and use of photomasks to produce micro and nanoscale structures on the surface of various materials. Here, one demonstrates the use of fs-laser micromachining to alter the morphology of the surface of films obtained from a fluorinated acrylate-based copolymer-containing azobenzene, in order to produce hydrophilic surfaces. Specifically, square-shaped pillars were produced on the polymer surface, leading to a maximum decrease of approximately 16ο in the water contact angle, whose wetting behavior could be described by the Cassie-impregnating regime.