Fs laser surface processing of platinum

The production of nanometer-scale features on platinum samples was investigated with the use of a femtosecond (fs) laser system operational at IR, visible and UV wavelengths. Laser induced surface structures were produced having globular nanoprotrusions with apparent length scales ranging from sub-nanometer diameters to 100's of nanometers, dependent on the laser parameters employed. Analysis of Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM) images revealed that each surface contained a distribution of structure sizes for which the frequency of occurrence for a given size increased appreciably as the particle/globule diameter decreased. In the field of biomedical implants, there is increasing interest in surface texturing to promote tissue in-growth as well as porous structures which promote delayed drug release. The nanometer-scaled features investigated may be applicable to such implants.