Nanosecond pulsed laser-induced formation of nanopattern on Fe-based metallic glass surface

Fe-based metallic glasses (MGs) have attracted much attention because of their cheap raw materials, outstanding soft magnetic properties and superior catalytic activity. Meanwhile, the fabrication of micro/nano-structures on its surface could further improve its functional properties. In this study, it was attempted to fabricate micro/nano-structures on a Fe-based MG (Fe₅₂Cr₁₃Mo₁₂C₁₅B₆Er₂, in at. %) surface by nanosecond pulsed laser irradiation technology. The surface characteristics and microstructural evolution of Fe-based MG were investigated. The experimental results showed that under different laser fluences, the laser-irradiated areas exhibited distinguished microstructures, i.e., nanoparticles, the network nanostructures or a combination of these two microstructures. Furthermore, oxygen and erbium were enriched inside the network nanostructures. By analyzing the microstructural evolution, formation mechanisms of the nanoparticles and the network nanostructures were discussed. The nanoparticles were actually caused by laser-induced element enrichment (i.e. amorphous erbium oxide) and the mismatch of its wettability with the substrate; the formation of the network nanostructures was attributed to the diffusion and connection of nanoparticles under the combined influence of recoil pressure and surface topography.