Tunable Liquid Lenses: Emerging Technologies and Future Perspectives

Laser & Photonics Review, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 17(11)

Опубликована: Окт. 2, 2023

Abstract Tunable liquid lenses with controllable focal length attract much attention from many researchers due to the unique advantages of strong adjustability, low power consumption, fast response time, and easy integration. In last two decades, tunable have already been applied in machine vision, code scanner cameras, cellphone webcams, microscopes, mini projectors, AR/VR displays, 3D so on. There is no doubt that play an increasingly more important role field optical technology. this review, research background significance are introduced. systematically qualified according driving mechanism, their current status latest progress presented detail. The existing problems, directions for future research, potential applications also discussed.

Язык: Английский

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Liquid crystal-integrated metasurfaces for an active photonic platform

Opto-Electronic Advances, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 7(6), С. 230216 - 230216

Опубликована: Янв. 1, 2024

Metasurfaces have opened the door to next-generation optical devices due their ability dramatically modulate electromagnetic waves at will using periodically arranged nanostructures. However, metasurfaces typically static responses with fixed geometries of nanostructures, which poses challenges for implementing transition technology by replacing conventional components. To solve this problem, liquid crystals (LCs) been actively employed designing tunable adjustable birefringent in real time. Here, we review recent studies on LC-powered metasurfaces, are categorized as wavefront tuning and spectral tuning. Compared numerous reviews intensively explores development LC-integrated metasurfaces. At end review, briefly introduce latest research trends suggest further directions improving LCs. We hope that accelerate new innovative devices.

Язык: Английский

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Origami metamaterials for ultra-wideband and large-depth reflection modulation

Nature Communications, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 15(1)

Опубликована: Апрель 12, 2024

Abstract The dynamic control of electromagnetic waves is a persistent pursuit in modern industrial development. state-of-the-art devices suffer from limitations such as narrow bandwidth, limited modulation range, and expensive features. To address these issues, we fuse origami techniques with metamaterial design to achieve ultra-wideband large-depth reflection modulation. Through folding process, our proposed achieves over 10-dB depth 4.96 – 38.8 GHz, fractional bandwidth 155% tolerance incident angles polarizations. Its performance verified through experiments analyzed multipole decomposition theory. enhance its practical applicability, transparent conductive films are introduced the metamaterial, achieving high optical transparency (>87%) visible near-infrared light while maintaining cost-effectiveness. Benefiting lightweight, foldability, low-cost properties, shows promise for extensive satellite communication window mobile management.

Язык: Английский

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Liquid Crystal Elastomers for Actuation: A Perspective on Structure-Property-Function Relation

Progress in Polymer Science, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 153, С. 101829 - 101829

Опубликована: Май 10, 2024

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) have long held significant promise as materials for artificial muscles and smart actuators. Recent advancements in this field introduced innovative LCE structures at various scales, resulting novel properties functionalities that further accentuate their actuation advantages, bolstering potential future soft systems. The ongoing pursuit of enhanced performance functionality actuators, essential advancing them towards superior material-based machines devices, is intricately linked to the understanding fundamental structure-property-function relationships. This review provides a perspective on these relationships across multiple structural levels, encompassing chemical structures, mesophase micro-to-macroscale programmed structures. It delves into impact key actuation-related properties, features, functionalities. aspires provide valuable insights design high-performance development exceptional modes behaviors, expansion achievable functionality.

Язык: Английский

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Self-Powered Terahertz Modulators Based on Metamaterials, Liquid Crystals, and Triboelectric Nanogenerators

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 16(25), С. 32249 - 32258

Опубликована: Июнь 13, 2024

6G communication mainly occurs in the THz band (0.1–10 THz), which can achieve excellent performance. Self-powered modulators are essential for achieving better conduction, modulation, and manipulation of waves. Herein, a self-powered terahertz modulator, is based on metamaterials, liquid crystals (LCs), rotary triboelectric nanogenerators (R-TENGs), proposed to realize driving different array elements. The corresponding designs an integrated design preparation method dynamic spectrum-reconfigurable crystal metamaterials. In addition, type cross-structure metamaterial box, phase modulation 1 GHz achieved at frequencies 0.117 0.161 with depths 13 11%, respectively. Because R-TENG multifan blade circular electrodes generate 18 peaks electric output every rotation, it successfully provide sufficient frequency alternating-current energy drive modulator function. Our findings lay solid theoretical foundation further building systems promote development system LC-driving devices domain.

Язык: Английский

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3D Terahertz Confocal Imaging with Chromatic Metasurface

Laser & Photonics Review, Год журнала: 2025, Номер unknown

Опубликована: Янв. 7, 2025

Abstract Terahertz confocal imaging allows 3D see‐through of a non‐metallic object with high resolution. Conventional methods acquiring images thick objects suffer from limited depth‐of‐field, constrained depth resolution, and/or inconsistent spatial resolution at different depths. To address these limitations, the intrinsic chromatic aberration typical focusing metasurface is exploited to achieve frequency‐dependent focal lengths. An located within this extended range can be readily inspected by performing 2D raster scans. A rigorous analysis reveals that spot maintains constant waist diameter 2.4 mm (equivalent 2.2 275 GHz) and migrates 68.1 62.4, or 16.4 times Rayleigh length, 1.4‐fold designed length 175 525 GHz, thus achieving consistent large depth‐of‐field for imaging. Importantly, achieved relatively numerical aperture around 0.42. Measurements conducted between 220 330 GHz exhibit close agreement calculation. demonstrate its functionality, two stacked papers texts, mobile phone, earphones concealed in charging case are imaged, where short‐time Fourier transform implemented time‐domain terahertz enhance image contrast. The presented technologically significant systems rapidly inspect exceptional resolutions. Its potential applications include in‐situ defect detection identification security screening.

Язык: Английский

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Autonomous Self‐Sustained Liquid Crystal Actuators Enabling Active Photonic Applications

Advanced Functional Materials, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 33(38)

Опубликована: Май 30, 2023

Abstract Advances in biomimicry have led to the rise of advanced robotics, posing promising revolutions across a variety fields. Programmable self‐sustained actuation nature, such as human's heart beating, bird's wingbeats, and penguin's waddling, are intriguing inspiring but challenging for device innovation, which hinders emergence autonomous self‐feedback applications, especially optics photonics. Herein, design, fabrication, operation crosslinked liquid crystal actuators described that combine programming microstructures engineering macroscopic shape morphing active The consist twisted nematic molecules with both elastic optical anisotropies, resulting large bending deformations response heat. motions waddling oscillations demonstrated, further contributing achievements dynamic 2D beam steering light field modulation. It is envisioned these performances without requiring turning stimulus on‐off will find applications systems, photonic well self‐governing robotics core feature thermo‐mechanical‐optical transduction.

Язык: Английский

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Stimuli‐responsive active materials for dynamic control of light field

Deleted Journal, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 1(2)

Опубликована: Окт. 19, 2023

Abstract The increasing demand for the multidimensional and dynamic control of light has spurred development stimuli‐responsive, reconfigurable, programmable optical systems. Liquid crystals (LCs), which combine liquid‐like stimuli‐responsiveness crystal‐like orientational ordering, have emerged as highly appealing soft materials. Owing to their exceptional performance functionalities, they are becoming incredibly important materials in active planar optics photonics. Additionally, silk proteins, luminescent materials, metasurfaces exhibit properties, enabling remarkable multifunctional applications. This review focuses on advancements stimuli‐responsive including LCs, well some these paired with LCs. Their attractive tunable applications photonics, along great potential future systems, also emphasized.

Язык: Английский

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Modulo-addition operation enables terahertz programmable metasurface for high-resolution two-dimensional beam steering

Science Advances, Год журнала: 2023, Номер 9(42)

Опубликована: Окт. 18, 2023

Electrically controlled terahertz (THz) beamforming antennas are essential for various applications such as wireless communications, security checks, and radar to improve coverage information capacity. The emerging programmable metasurface provides a flexible, cost-effective platform THz beam steering. However, scaling arrays achieve high-gain steering faces several technical challenges. Here, we propose pixelated liquid crystal with crossbar structure, thereby increasing the array scale more than 3000. coding pattern on device is generated by modulo-addition of sequences top bottom layers. We experimentally demonstrate capable active deflection in upper half-space. This scale-up devices opens exciting opportunities pencil beamforming, high-speed processing, optical computing.

Язык: Английский

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Smart chiral liquid crystal elastomers: Design, properties and application

Smart Molecules, Год журнала: 2024, Номер 2(1)

Опубликована: Фев. 29, 2024

Abstract Smart chiral liquid crystal elastomers are a class of soft photonic crystals with periodic nanostructures. There two kinds structural colors: cholesteric one‐dimensional helical nanostructure and blue‐phase three‐dimensional nanostructure. The self‐assembled can be dynamically controlled under external stimulation, the reflected color adjusted throughout visible light range. Along development innovative material systems cutting‐edge manufacturing technologies, researchers have proposed diverse strategies to design synthesize thoroughly investigated their properties potential applications. Here, we provide systematic review progress in fabrication smart elastomers, focusing on via surface‐enforced alignment, bar coating, 3D printing, anisotropic deswelling methods as well self‐assembly without additional alignment. able respond quickly stimuli wide range applications areas such adaptive optics, color‐changing camouflage, robotics, information encryption. This concludes perspective opportunities challenges for future elastomers.

Язык: Английский

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