Insights into the Superhydrophilic to Superhydrophobic Transition of Femtosecond Laser-Induced Periodic Surface Structures on Titanium under Ambient Conditions

The wettability is an imperative surface property playing a critical role in regulating the physiological important processes such as protein adsorption, cell adhesion, and proliferation of the biomaterials such as titanium [1], [2] and eventually improving their outcome. In the present study, the mechanism underlying the wetting transition of the femtosecond laser generated periodic surface structures on titanium was systematically assessed by analyzing their surface chemical compositions as a function of time by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy along with static water contact angle measurements.