Abstract: A method for laser-processing a metallic surface to produce a functionalized metallic surface comprises: providing a material substrate having the surface; and applying a pulsed laser beam to a region of the surface, the pulsed laser beam being applied at a non-normal angle to the surface, wherein material in the region of the surface ablates due to the applied pulsed laser beam and wherein at least a portion of the ablated material redeposits on the surface to produce one or more material-coated structures angled at the non-normal angle with respect to the surface, wherein the surface having the one or more material-coated structures is the functionalized surface. The functionalized metallic surface has broadband directional emissivity independent of polarization.

Abstract: Aspects and embodiments disclosed herein include a method for forming a plurality of microfeatures, the method comprising: irradiating a starting multi-layer material with a pulsed laser beam at a plurality of locations of the multi-layer material; wherein: the starting multi-layer material comprises a plurality of starting layers comprising a first starting layer having a first composition and a second starting layer adjacent to the first starting layer and having a second composition different than the first composition; the plurality of microfeatures form in the multi-layer starting material during the step of irradiating; each microfeature comprises a plurality of microfeature layers comprising a first microfeature layer having the first composition and a second microfeature layer having the second composition. Optionally, each of the first and second composition is an inorganic material.

Abstract: A method for laser-processing a metallic surface to produce a functionalized metallic surface comprises: providing a substrate having the metallic surface; applying a pulsed laser beam with a controlled fluence to a region of the metallic surface in an environment containing oxygen, wherein metal material in the region of the metallic surface ablates due to the applied pulsed laser beam and wherein at least a portion of the ablated metal material oxidizes and redeposits on the metallic surface to produce one or more oxidized-metal-coated structures; wherein the metallic surface having the one or more oxidized-metal-coated structures is the functionalized metallic surface. Optionally, the functionalized metallic surface has a higher hemispherical emissivity than the metallic surface free of the oxidized-metal-coated structures and prior to applying the pulsed laser beam under otherwise identical conditions.

Abstract: A system embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a solid structure configure to contact each of a material in a liquid phase and a material in a vapor phase, the solid structure including a plurality of microstructures protruding at angles relative to a horizontal plane; and a layer of nanoparticles positioned on the plurality of microstructures, the layer of nanoparticles having a composition that is at least one of a same material as the plurality of microstructures and an oxide of the same material as the plurality of microstructures, the plurality of microstructures defining one or more valleys, each of the one or more valleys positioned between the layer of nanoparticles of adjacent microstructures of the plurality of microstructures, the one or more valleys configured to govern at least one of a size and a shape of a bubble of the material in the vapor phase.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for propelling a liquid droplet in a Leidenfrost state. A microfluidic device embodiment includes, but is not limited to, a solid structure having a patterned surface, the patterned surface including at least a first patterned region having a first Leidenfrost temperature with respect to a fluid material and a second patterned region having a second Leidenfrost temperature with respect to the fluid, the first patterned region adjacent to the second patterned region, the first patterned region defining a path over which a droplet of the fluid is configured to travel in a Leidenfrost state.

Abstract: A monolithic heat-transfer device can include a container wall configured to retain a working fluid, where the container wall is formed of a single material. The container wall also includes an interior surface configured to be in fluid communication with the working fluid. The monolithic heat-transfer device also includes a channel disposed in the interior surface of the container wall, where the channel comprises a microstructure and a nanostructure. The microstructure and the nanostructure are materially contiguous with the single material forming the container wall. In some embodiments, the nanostructure comprises one or more layers of nanoparticles. The monolithic heat-transfer device can be configured as a heat pipe, which can be constructed from the container wall and a second container wall joined together and sealed to one another to contain the working fluid (e.g., using laser welding, electron beam welding (EBW), and so forth).

Abstract: A particle based optical diode having at least two cavities or at least two regions of a single cavity, wherein the regions contain different types of particles.

Abstract: A particle based optical diode having at least two cavities or at least two regions of a single cavity, wherein the regions contain different types of particles.