Initial stages of laser-induced forward transfer using a release layer via hydrodynamic simulations Mihail Octavian Cernaianu, Petru Ghenuche, Thomas Lippert, Maria Dinescu, Alexandra Palla-Papavlu Applied Surface Science, 2026 • Time-resolved shadowgraphy and hydrodynamic simulations are combined to study LIFT. • Aluminum flyers benchmark HELIOS simulations of laser-driven launch dynamics. • LIFT of polymers exhibits a narrow fluence window for intact pixel transfer. • Hydrodynamic modeling guides optimization of polymer LIFT process conditions. Laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) is a versatile technique for controlled thin-film deposition, yet the early-time dynamics governing flyer launch, shock formation, and material integrity remain insufficiently understood, particularly for polymers. Here, we combine time-resolved side-view shadowgraphy with one-dimensional (1D) hydrodynamic simulations to investigate LIFT of aluminum (Al) and polyisobutylene (PIB) films assisted by triazene polymer (TP) sacrificial layers under nanosecond UV irradiation. Al flyers are first used as a benchmark system to validate the hydrodynamic model against established experimental data, enabling assessment of flyer position–time trajectories and shock-wave evolution in air and vacuum. Polymer LIFT is then examined using 150 nm TP/60 nm PIB donor stacks at laser fluences of 200, 350, and 600 mJ/cm 2 . Shadowgraphy reveals a transition from barely detectable launch at low fluence, to efficient and coherent flyer ejection at intermediate fluence. At high fluences an overdriven regime is reached, characterized by excessive heating and material consumption. The simulations reproduce key experimental features, including the coupled departure of TP and PIB from the donor and the fluence-dependent loss of flyer integrity. Comparison between metal and polymer systems highlights the role of sacrificial-layer thickness, material response, and shock–flyer interaction in determining transfer quality. Overall, this combined experimental–simulation approach clarifies the process window for intact polymer pixel transfer and shows that hydrodynamic modeling can provide a useful tool for interpreting time-resolved LIFT diagnostics, provided that the geometrical and material-response limitations of the modeling framework are taken into account.
Nanosecond laser interaction with Beryllium: study of surface erosion and material removal dynamics Alexandra Palla-Papavlu, Adrian Bercea, Mihail Octavian Cernaianu, Valentina Marascu, Bogdan Butoi, Corneliu Porosnicu, Bogdana Mitu, Gheorghe Dinescu Materials and Design, 2025 • Nanosecond laser fluence steers beryllium surfaces from ripples to craters. • Higher pulse frequency intensifies melt flow, accelerating Be material loss. • Modeling links plasma heat transport to observed laser–induced Be erosion. • Laser–ablation Be droplets model debris behavior in precision optical processing. This study systematically investigates the surface erosion mechanisms and material removal dynamics of beryllium targets subjected to nanosecond pulsed laser irradiation at 1064 nm wavelength, exploring the influence of varying laser fluences (1–3 J/cm 2 ) and pulse repetition rates (5 Hz and 10 Hz). By applying different surface characterization techniques, significant morphological transitions from minimal surface disruption at lower fluences to pronounced craters and complex ripple formations at higher fluences are revealed. Results indicate that increased pulse repetition rates exacerbate thermal accumulation effects, enhancing material removal through intensified melting, evaporation, and the ejection of molten droplets. Complementary hydrodynamic simulations employing the HELIOS code further elucidate the underlying plasma and thermal dynamics, providing detailed temperature and density profiles consistent with experimental observations. This combined experimental and theoretical approach advances the fundamental understanding of beryllium behavior under high-energy laser processing conditions, presenting valuable insights critical for optimizing its performance in precision manufacturing and high-energy technological applications.
Change of Adhesion Properties of Bioinspired Laser-Induced Periodic Nanostructures towards Cribellate Spider Nanofiber Threads by Means of Thin Coatings Johannes Heitz, Gerda Buchberger, Werner Baumgartner, Marco Meyer, Margret Weissbach, Anna-Christin Joel, Simona Brajnicov, Alexandra Palla-Papavlu, Maria Dinescu Coatings, 2024 We investigated the effect of additional continuous functional coatings, which changed the hydrophilic–hydrophobic properties of the surface without heavily influencing the surface topography at the nanoscale, on the antiadhesive properties of bioinspired laser-induced periodic nanostructures. These nanostructures mimic the antiadhesive structures on the silk-combing area on the legs of cribellate spiders, the calamistrum. The thin films were deposited by matrix-assisted laser deposition and characterized by infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, water contact angle measurements, and adhesion tests using capture threads from the cribellate spider webs. In all cases, the nanoripples were preserved and these structured surfaces showed lower adhesion forces compared to flat controls, although not significant. However, this effect was totally overwhelmed by the difference between the adhesion forces on surfaces with different chemical compositions. The largest adhesion forces were observed on hydrophilic surfaces and the lowest ones on hydrophobic surfaces. The fact that the antiadhesion between nanofibers and the nano-structured areas depends strongly on the chemical composition of the surface can be explained by the specific adhesion between individual chemical groups due to frequency dependencies in the theory of van der Waals forces. However, explaining these adhesion properties just by the categories “hydrophilic” or “hydrophobic” is oversimplified.
Polypyrrole–Tungsten Oxide Nanocomposite Fabrication through Laser-Based Techniques for an Ammonia Sensor: Achieving Room Temperature Operation Mihaela Filipescu, Stefan Dobrescu, Adrian Ionut Bercea, Anca Florina Bonciu, Valentina Marascu, Simona Brajnicov, Alexandra Palla-Papavlu Polymers, 2024 A highly sensitive ammonia-gas sensor based on a tungsten trioxide and polypyrrole (WO3/PPy) nanocomposite synthesized using pulsed-laser deposition (PLD) and matrix-assisted pulsed-laser evaporation (MAPLE) is presented in this study. The WO3/PPy nanocomposite is prepared through a layer-by-layer alternate deposition of the PPy thin layer on the WO3 mesoporous layer. Extensive characterization using X-ray diffraction, FTIR and Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and water contact angle are carried out on the as-prepared layers. The gas-sensing properties of the WO3/PPy nanocomposite layers are systematically investigated upon exposure to ammonia gas. The results demonstrate that the WO3/PPy nanocomposite sensor exhibits a lower detection limit, higher response, faster response/recovery time, and exceptional repeatability compared to the pure PPy and WO3 counterparts. The significant improvement in gas-sensing properties observed in the WO3/PPy nanocomposite layer can be attributed to the distinctive interactions occurring at the p–n heterojunction established between the n-type WO3 and p-type PPy. Additionally, the enhanced surface area of the WO3/PPy nanocomposite, achieved through the PLD and MAPLE synthesis techniques, contributes to its exceptional gas-sensing performance.
Fabrication of Hybrid Electrodes by Laser-Induced Forward Transfer for the Detection of Cu2+ Ions Anca Florina Bonciu, Florin Andrei, Alexandra Palla-Papavlu Materials, 2023 Composites based on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)—graphene oxide (GO) are increasingly considered for sensing applications. In this work we aim at patterning and prototyping microscale geometries of PEDOT:PSS: GO composites for the modification of commercially available electrochemical sensors. Here, we demonstrate the laser-induced forward transfer of PEDOT:PSS: GO composites, a remarkably simple procedure that allows for the fast and clean transfer of materials with high resolution for a wide range of laser fluences (450–750 mJ/cm2). We show that it is possible to transfer PEDOT:PSS: GO composites at different ratios (i.e., 25:75 %wt and 50:50 %wt) onto flexible screen-printed electrodes. Furthermore, when testing the functionality of the PEDOT:PSS: GO modified electrodes via LIFT, we could see that both the PEDOT:PSS: GO ratio as well as the addition of an intermediate release layer in the LIFT process plays an important role in the electrochemical response. In particular, the ratio of the oxidation peak current to the reduction peak current is almost twice as high for the sensor with a 50:50 %et PEDOT:PSS: GO pixel. This direct transfer methodology provides a path forward for the prototyping and production of polymer: graphene oxide composite based devices.
High-Sensitivity Ammonia Sensors with Carbon Nanowall Active Material via Laser-Induced Transfer Alexandra Palla-Papavlu, Sorin Vizireanu, Mihaela Filipescu, Thomas Lippert Nanomaterials, 2022 Ammonia sensors with high sensitivity, reproducible response, and low cost are of paramount importance for medicine, i.e., being a biomarker to diagnose lung and renal conditions, and agriculture, given that fertilizer application and livestock manure account for more than 80% of NH3 emissions. Thus, in this work, we report the fabrication of ultra-sensitive ammonia sensors by a rapid, efficient, and solvent-free laser-based procedure, i.e., laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT). LIFT has been used to transfer carbon nanowalls (CNWs) onto flexible polyimide substrates pre-patterned with metallic electrodes. The feasibility of LIFT is validated by the excellent performance of the laser-printed CNW-based sensors in detecting different concentrations of NH3 in the air, at room temperature. The sensors prepared by LIFT show reversible responses to ammonia when exposed to 20 ppm, whilst at higher NH3 concentrations, the responses are quasi-dosimetric. Furthermore, the laser-printed CNW-based sensors have a detection limit as low as 89 ppb and a response time below 10 min for a 20 ppm exposure. In addition, the laser-printed CNW-based sensors are very robust and can withstand more than 200 bending cycles without loss of performance. This work paves the way for the application and integration of laser-based techniques in device fabrication, overcoming the challenges associated with solvent-assisted chemical functionalization.
Facile Modification of Flexible Electrodes via Laser Transfer Florin Andrei, Iulian Boerasu, Mihaela Filipescu, Alexandra Palla-Papavlu Materials, 2022 In this work, we report the modification of commercially available electrochemical electrodes with tin oxide (SnO2) and Pd doped SnO2 (Pd-SnO2) via pulsed laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT). The pulsed light irradiation working as in situ pulsed photo-thermal treatment allows for the transfer of SnO2 and Pd-SnO2 from UV absorbing metal complex precursors onto flexible, commercially available screen-printed electrodes. The laser transfer conditions are optimized and the material transferred under different conditions is evaluated morphologically and chemically, and its functionality is tested against the detection of copper ions. For example, by applying laser fluences in the range 100–250 mJ/cm2, the shape and the size of the transferred features ranges from nano-polyhedrons to near corner-grown cubic Pd-SnO2 or near cubic Pd-SnO2. In addition, the EDX analysis is consistent with the XPS findings, i.e., following laser transfer, Pd amounts lower than 0.5% are present in the Pd-SnO2 pixels. First sensing tests were carried out and the transferred Pd-SnO2 proved to enhance the cathodic peak when exposed to Cu(II) ions. This photo-initiated fabrication technology opens a promising way for the low-cost and high-throughput manufacturing of metal oxides as well as for electrodes for heavy metal ion detection.
Sensing membranes based on CNT nanocomposites processing for air and water monitoring Cristina Craciun, Mihaela Filipescu, Alexandra Palla-Papavlu, Simona Brajnicov, Tatiana Tozar, Fanel Scheaua, Anca Bonciu, Florin Nedelcut, Maria Dinescu 2021 IEEE International Workshop on Metrology for the Sea Learning to Measure Sea Health Parameters Metrosea 2021 Proceedings, 2021
LIFT Using a Dynamic Release Layer Alexandra Palla Papavlu, Thomas Lippert Laser Printing of Functional Materials 3D Microfabrication Electronics and Biomedicine, 2018
Laser Printing of Proteins and Biomaterials Alexandra Palla Papavlu, Valentina Dinca, Maria Dinescu Laser Printing of Functional Materials 3D Microfabrication Electronics and Biomedicine, 2018
Applications of laser printing for organic electronics Ph. Delaporte, A. Ainsebaa, A.-P. Alloncle, M. Benetti, C. Boutopoulos, D. Cannata, F. Di Pietrantonio, V. Dinca, M. Dinescu, J. Dutroncy, R. Eason, M. Feinaugle, J.-M. Fernández-Pradas, A. Grisel, K. Kaur, U. Lehmann, T. Lippert, C. Loussert, M. Makrygianni, I. Manfredonia, T. Mattle, J.-L. Morenza, M. Nagel, F. Nüesch, A. Palla-Papavlu, L. Rapp, N. Rizvi, G. Rodio, S. Sanaur, P. Serra, J. Shaw-Stewart, C. L. Sones, E. Verona, I. Zergioti Proceedings of SPIE the International Society for Optical Engineering, 2013
Liposome micropatterning based on laser-induced forward transfer Alexandra Palla-Papavlu, Iurie Paraico, James Shaw-Stewart, Valentina Dinca, Tudor Savopol, Eugenia Kovacs, Thomas Lippert, Alexander Wokaun, Maria Dinescu Applied Physics A Materials Science and Processing, 2011
