Picosecond Laser-Textured Stainless Steel Superhydrophobic Surface with an Antibacterial Adhesion Property

Langmuir. 2019 Sep 3;35(35):11414-11421. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b01333. Epub 2019 Aug 19.

Abstract

The pursuit of antibacterial properties on the surfaces of food container, medical equipment, and pharmaceutical tanks has been a compelling challenge for decades. Inspired by the biomimetic superhydrophobic surfaces that have self-cleaning, antifog, antisnow, and reduced bacterial adhesion properties, we use a simple and effective technology of a picosecond laser texturing for the fabrication of a superhydrophobic antibacterial surface on AISI 420 martensitic stainless steel plates. The laser-textured surface with micropapillae patterns with superimposed nanostructures exhibits outstanding in-air superhydrophobic and superaerophilicity underwater, which under the oscillation state resists an adhesion of 99% Escherichia coli and 93% Staphylococcus aureus and has hardly any bacterial adhesion under a stationary state. The comparative experiments verify that the robust air layer and hierarchical micro-nanostructures have come together to comprise the antibacterial mechanism. The laser-textured superhydrophobic surface also exhibits superior anticorrosion and antidestructive abilities with excellent antibacterial durability especially if deep cleaning is carried out after each dipping time in the bacterial suspension, promoting its leading-edge applications in medical, food, and pharmaceutical fields.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Bacterial Adhesion / drug effects
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Lasers*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Particle Size
  • Stainless Steel / chemistry*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
  • Surface Properties
  • Time Factors
  • Wettability

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Stainless Steel