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Title: Electrically Tunable Polymer Stabilized Chiral Ferroelectric Nematic Liquid Crystal Microlenses
Abstract

Tunable optical lenses are in great demand in modern technologies ranging from augmented and virtual reality to sensing and detection. In this work, electrically tunable microlenses based on a polymer‐stabilized chiral ferroelectric nematic liquid crystal are described. The power of the lens can be quickly (within 5 ms) varied by ≈500 diopters by ramping an in‐plane electric field from 0 to 2.5 V µm−1. Importantly, within this relatively low‐amplitude field range, the lens is optically isotropic; thus, its focal length is independent of the polarization of incoming light. This remarkable performance combines the advantages of electrically tuned isotropic lenses and the field‐controlled shape of the lens, which are unique properties of chiral ferroelectric nematic liquid crystals and have no counterpart in other liquid crystals. The achieved lens performance represents a significant step forward as compared to liquid lenses controlled by electrowetting and opens new possibilities in various applications such as biomimetic optics, security printing, and solar energy concentration.

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Award ID(s):
2215191 2122399 2210083
PAR ID:
10513760
Author(s) / Creator(s):
; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Publisher / Repository:
Advanced Optical Materials
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Advanced Optical Materials
Volume:
12
Issue:
7
ISSN:
2195-1071
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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