Optically anisotropic,electrically tunable microlens arrays formed via single-step photopolymerization-induced phase separation in polymer/liquid-crystal composite materials  

作　　者：Wenfeng Cai Delai Kong Zongjun Ma Mengjia Cen Jiawei Wang Dandan Yuan Ke Li Ming Cheng Shaolin Xu Dan Luo Yanqing Lu Yanjun Liu 

机构地区：[1]Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen 518055,China [2]Shenzhen Engineering Research Center for High Resolution Light Field Display and Technology,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen 518055,China [3]Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,518055,China [4]College of Engineering and Applied Sciences,Nanjing University,Nanjing 210093,China

出　　处：《Light(Advanced Manufacturing)》2023年第4期21-33,共13页光（先进制造）（英文）

基　　金：supported in part by National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2021YFB2802300);National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.62075093 and 62211530039);Guangdong Innovative and Entrepreneurial Research Team Program(Grant No.2017ZT07C071);Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Commission(Grant No.JCYJ20220818100413030);Shenzhen Development and Reform Commission(Grant No.XMHT20220114005);funded by the Key Lab of Modern Optical Technologies of Education Ministry of China,Soochow University(Grant No.KJS2132).

摘　　要：Microlenses or arrays are key elements in many applications.However,their construction methods involve multiple fabrication processes,thereby increasing the complexity and cost of fabrication.In this study,we demonstrate an optically anisotropic,electrically tunable liquid crystal(LC)microlens array using a simple,one-step fabrication method.The microlens array is formed via photopolymerization-induced phase separation inside a polymer/LC composite.It possesses both polarization-dependent and electrically tunable focusing and imaging properties.Without applying voltage,the microlens array has a natural focal length of 8 mm,which is a result of its inherent gradient refractive index profile.Upon applying voltage above the threshold,the LC molecules reorient along the electric field direction and the focal length of the microlens array gradually increases.Based on its superior properties,the microlens array is further used for integral imaging applications,demonstrating electrically tunable central depth plane.Such LC microlens arrays could find numerous potential applications owing to their advantageous features of being flat,ultra-thin,and tunable,including 3D displays,optical interconnects,and more.

关 键 词：PHOTOPOLYMERIZATION Phase separation Microlens array Electro-optical properties Integral imaging 

分 类 号：TB33[一般工业技术—材料科学与工程]