Phototunable Microlens Array Based on Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystals

Abstract

A microfluidic system is designed to fabricate polymer dispersed liquid crystal microspheres, whose shape, surface smoothness, and size are controlled. A microlens array (MLA) is constructed by the assembly of the monodispersed microspheres. In the MLA, each microsphere acts as a separate imaging unit. As the liquid crystal (LC) used is a mixed liquid crystal that contain photoresponsive 4‐butyl‐4‐methoxyazobenzene, the imaging capability and light transportation of the MLA can be reversibly controlled by light irradiation.

Photonic Jet by a Near‐Unity‐Refractive‐Index Sphere on a Dielectric Substrate with High Index Contrast

“…Many novel devices on the applications of imaging and sensing, such as high numerical aperture lenses, [1,2] photonic crystal/liquid lens, [3][4][5] GRIN lens with subwavelength defect [6] and metalenses, [7,8] have been afforded based upon the features of photonic jet. Many novel devices on the applications of imaging and sensing, such as high numerical aperture lenses, [1,2] photonic crystal/liquid lens, [3][4][5] GRIN lens with subwavelength defect [6] and metalenses, [7,8] have been afforded based upon the features of photonic jet.…”

Supercritical Fluid-Driven Polymer Phase Separation for Microlens with Tunable Dimension and Curvature

“…Microlens based on stimuli-responsive microgel provides an interesting way to dynamically tune the focal length, yet the manipulation and application are confined to the aqueous environments. [19][20][21] Similar issue exists as well when using the pressure in the microfluidic chamber to adjust the focusing of the PDMS microlens. 22 4 Dewetted droplets via direct transfer 9 , inkjet printing 23 , dip-pen nanolithography 24,25 as well as thermal annealing (also called reflow) [26][27][28] are reported for available tunable microlenses, while these adjustments should be accompanied with rigid variation in the substrate, roughness, curvature and constituent materials.…”

Continuous-flow C. elegans fluorescence expression analysis with real-time image processing through microfluidics

“…Microfluidic technology has emerged as a promising tool for automated fluorescence detection (Hou et al 2014), isolating (Li et al 2015), micro-chemistry modulations (Xiong et al 2009), and high throughput C. elegans analysis (Duffy et al 1998). The elastomer polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), used in microchips, is an ideal material for use in the study of C. elegans, as it is transparent, elastic, non-fluorescent and biocompatible.…”