Functional building devices using laser-induced selective metallization on magnesium oxychloride cement composites

Magnesium oxychloride (MOC) cement as viable substrate candidate has unique applications in a range of functional and novel sensing applications due to their low thermal conductivity, high toughness, durability and excellent fire resistance. Here, we developed a facile strategy to fabricate metallized patterns on MOC cement composites through laser-induced selective metallization. The laser sensitiser of copper hydroxyl phosphate [Cu2(OH)PO4] was incorporated into MOC cement to prepare MOC cement composites. Then, the metallized copper patterns were obtained on MOC cement composites after 1064 nm pulsed laser activation and electroless copper plating (ECP). The obtained copper layer on MOC cement composites exhibited high electrical conductivity and excellent mechanical adhesion to the substrate. Furthermore, the rough copper patterns exhibited self-cleaning ability after superhydrophobic modification, which could prevent the surface from being contaminated. The metallized copper pattern could rapidly heat up when energised due to the Joule heating effect, and it can be applied for electric heating and automatic deicing in winter. In addition, a UV photodetector was fabricated by designing an interdigital metallized pattern combined with the UV light response characteristics of nano-ZnO, which has potential application on intelligent functional devices.