The precise manipulation of underwater acoustic waves in the ultrasonic frequency domain using lightweight materials, encompassing both bio-compatible and synthetic substrates, holds significant promise for diverse applications across medicine, defense, pharmaceutics, and industry. This study investigates the application of femtosecond laser micro-nanofabrication to enhance the acoustic performance of submerged steel metasurfaces featuring multi-scale hierarchical architectures and controlled wettability. Laser surface engineering reveals the latent potential of superimposing periodic nanostructures onto precisely defined micro-structured morphologies to achieve a notable broadband (0.5–1.5 MHz) attenuation of transmitted ultrasound, concurrently exhibiting a distinct frequency-dependent reflection profile. This approach offers a versatile methodology for tailoring underwater wave propagation characteristics through the creation of unconventional surface functionalities, thus opening new avenues for the design of advanced acoustic metasurfaces.
Unlocking ultrasound manipulation by laser-engineered hierarchical nanostructures
Fanelli, Fiorenza;Volpe, Annalisa;Ancona, Antonio;
2025-01-01
Abstract
The precise manipulation of underwater acoustic waves in the ultrasonic frequency domain using lightweight materials, encompassing both bio-compatible and synthetic substrates, holds significant promise for diverse applications across medicine, defense, pharmaceutics, and industry. This study investigates the application of femtosecond laser micro-nanofabrication to enhance the acoustic performance of submerged steel metasurfaces featuring multi-scale hierarchical architectures and controlled wettability. Laser surface engineering reveals the latent potential of superimposing periodic nanostructures onto precisely defined micro-structured morphologies to achieve a notable broadband (0.5–1.5 MHz) attenuation of transmitted ultrasound, concurrently exhibiting a distinct frequency-dependent reflection profile. This approach offers a versatile methodology for tailoring underwater wave propagation characteristics through the creation of unconventional surface functionalities, thus opening new avenues for the design of advanced acoustic metasurfaces.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
