Fast Fabrication of Colorful Nanostructures Using Imprinting with Femtosecond Laser Structured Molds

Femtosecond laser induced periodic surface structures (FLIPSS) on many material surfaces have drawn much attention in recent years. However, the relatively low throughput of direct production process limits its potential of high volume manufacturing (HVM). In this study, fast replication of FLIPSS on Ag parts by imprinting process is demonstrated. An area of the high hardness (HRC 5860) cold work die steel SKD 11 is irradiated by femtosecond laser pulses with a top-hat beam profile to form periodic-like nanostructures with the periods of 600~700 nm. It was then used for the process of imprinting. An Ag part with nano ripples can be replicated quickly, which proves that HVM of LIPSS on Ag parts is possible.