Prospective nanostructured coatings for modification of calcium fluoride surfaces

Abstract
The basic properties of materials can be changed by structuring their volume with various nanoparticles as well as by surface modification. In this study, calcium fluoride (CaF2) is selected as a model matrix for investigating the characteristic surface properties, and its spectral and mechanical properties, as well as the surface wetting of a CaF2 surface modified with carbon nanotubes, are compared with the properties of pure crystals. Laser-oriented deposition and an additional electric field varied in the range of 100–600 V/cm are applied for surface structuring. The experimental results are confirmed by quantum-chemical modeling.