Improving the antibacterial performance of 304 stainless steel using Nd-YAG laser irradiation

In this paper, the effect of Nd-YAG laser irradiation with the wavelength of 1064 nm on the formation of micro and nanostructures on the surface of stainless steel and its influence on the bacterial adhesion is investigated. Field Emission scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and sessile drop method were used to investigate the irradiated sample morphology, topography, chemical modifications and wetting properties, respectively. Finally, the bacterial adhesion test was done on irradiated and non-irradiated surfaces. The results show that formation of dense microstructures with nano roughness on the surface following laser irradiation at a fluence above the ablation threshold, leads to antibacterial properties of the sample.