To use or not to use (direct laser interference patterning), that is the question

Direct Laser Interference Patterning (DLIP) has shown to be a fabrication technology capable of producing large area periodic surface patterns on almost any kind of material. The produced structures have been used in the past to provide surfaces with new enhanced properties. On the other hand, the industrial use of this technology is still at the beginning due to the lack of appropriate and affordable systems, especially for small and medium enterprises. In this paper, the use of DLIP for the fabrication of periodic structures using different structuring strategies and optical concepts is discussed. Different technological challenges are addressed.