Pulsed laser growth and characterization of thin films on titanium substrates

Abstract Colored layers were obtained by laser surface treatment of Ti substrates with a pulsed Nd:YAG Q-switched laser. The changes in the morphology, structure and chemical composition of the layers were studied by SEM, EDS, XPS, SIMS and Raman spectroscopy as a function of the laser fluence in the 4–60 J cm −2 . For laser fluences lower than 25 J cm −2 , the layers are colorless or yellow. Their surface is smooth, but they display cracks which increase when the fluence increases. The O/Ti ratio, determined by XPS analysis, varies from 0.7 (colorless layers) to 1.3 (yellow layer). Moreover, XPS spectra evidence non-negligible amounts of nitrogen and carbon in these layers. Raman spectra s…