An additive manufacturing powder particle including a surface and at least one functional group formed on the surface, wherein the at least one functional group increases laser energy absorption of the additive manufacturing powder particle. The additive manufacturing particle is treated with plasma radiation to form hydroxyl functional groups on a surface of the additive manufacturing powder particle, where the hydroxyl functional groups have a molecular vibrational frequency corresponding to a laser wavenumber range of laser energy of an additive manufacturing process, and where the plasma radiation treating the additive manufacturing powder particles depends on the laser energy of the additive manufacturing process. Treating the additive manufacturing powder particle with the plasma radiation increases laser energy absorption of the additive manufacturing powder particle when the additive manufacturing particle is exposed to the laser energy, produced by a carbon dioxide laser, of the additive manufacturing process.