Femtosecond and picosecond laser fabrication for long-term superhydrophilic metal surfaces

•A comparison between fs and ps laser ablation on surface wettability is studied.•Micro-nano structure formation and surface chemistry are investigated in detail.•Structured surfaces with optimum parameters proved for fast-spreading of 300 ms.•XRD and FTIR analysis indicate organic contaminations of laser structured surfaces.•Long-term superhydrophilic surface is developed by zeolite (Na- ZSM-5) coating.