3D printed optics with nanometer scale surface roughness

Vaidya, Nina; Solgaard, Olav

doi:10.1038/s41378-018-0015-4

Cited by 80 publications

(62 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Recent advances in 3D printer technology have enabled the formation of clear photo-polymerised samples, which have been demonstrated in various applications [36][37][38][39] . The printing of these materials combined with specific post-processing procedures has improved the surfaces roughness to the nanometer scale 1,36 . We produced optical quality lenslet arrays using a widely available 3D printer combined with several stages of post-processing, see Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Novel optical elements are an interesting and powerful route to address and resolve many engineering challenges. Recent advances in 3D printing technologies have revolutionised the manufacturing of such novel designs and enabled many solutions that cannot be achieved otherwise 1,2 . One area of interest is that of solar photovoltaics (PV) 3,4 , where the efficient collection of light over a large set of input angles is important.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Multi-element lenslet array for efficient solar collection at extreme angles of incidence

Alsaigh

Bauer

Lavery

2020

Sci Rep

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Photovoltaics (PV) are a versatile and compact route to harness solar power. One critical challenge with current PV is preserving the optimal panel orientation angle with respect to the sun for efficient energy conversion. We experimentally demonstrate a bespoke multi-element lenslet array that allows for an increased power collection over a wide field of view by increasing the effective optical interaction length by up to 13 times specifically at large angles of incidence. This design can potentially be retrofitted onto already deployed amorphous silicon solar panels to yield an increased daily power generation by a factor of 1.36 for solar equivalent illumination. We 3D printed an optical proof of concept multi-element lenslet array to confirm an increase in power density for optical rays incident between 40 and 80 degrees. Our design indicates a novel optical approach that could potentially enable increased efficient solar collection in extreme operating conditions such as on the body of planes or the side of buildings.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

Multi-element lenslet array for efficient solar collection at extreme angles of incidence

Alsaigh

Bauer

Lavery

2020

Sci Rep

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“…So, bespoke manufacturing processes are expected to play a key role in the future of this soft matter technology, to unleash its full potential. They are envisaged to benefit from research efforts on 3D printing techniques that are currently spent (separately, at present) for DEAs 37,38 , and high quality optical components 39 . Integrating these independent technologies could potentially enable the manufacture of cheap monolithic 3D optical devices with soft structure and electrically reconfigurable complex shapes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Smart Lenses with Electrically Tuneable Astigmatism

Ghilardi

Boys

Török

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

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The holy grail of reconfigurable optics for microscopy, machine vision and other imaging technologies is a compact, in-line, low cost, refractive device that could dynamically tune optical aberrations within a range of about 2–5 wavelengths. This paper presents the first electrically reconfigurable, fully elastomeric, tuneable optical lenses with motor-less electrical controllability of astigmatism in the visible range. By applying different voltage combinations to thin dielectric elastomer actuator segments surrounding a soft silicone lens, we show that the latter can be electrically deformed either radially or along selectable directions, so as to tune defocus or astigmatism, up to about 3 wavelengths. By mounting the new lenses on a commercial camera, we demonstrate their functionality, showing how electrically reconfiguring their shape can be used to dynamically control directional blurring while taking images of different targets, so as to emphasize directional features having orthogonal spatial orientations. Results suggest that the possibility of electrically controlling aberrations inherent to these smart lenses holds promise to develop highly versatile new components for adaptive optics.

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“…After one layer is solidified by the laser beam, the same process is repeated for the subsequent layers. Recently, a parabolic mirror with nanometer-scale surface roughness (approximately 3 nm) was fabricated using SLA ( Figure 5A) [71]. Its focused beam profile was almost identical to the beam from a mirror fabricated via conventional diamond milling [77].…”

Section: Printing For Optical and Optoelectronic Componentsmentioning

confidence: 92%

3D and 4D printing for optics and metaphotonics

Jeong

Lee

et al. 2020

Nanophotonics

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AbstractThree-dimensional (3D) printing is a new paradigm in customized manufacturing and allows the fabrication of complex optical components and metaphotonic structures that are difficult to realize via traditional methods. Conventional lithography techniques are usually limited to planar patterning, but 3D printing can allow the fabrication and integration of complex shapes or multiple parts along the out-of-plane direction. Additionally, 3D printing can allow printing on curved surfaces. Four-dimensional (4D) printing adds active, responsive functions to 3D-printed structures and provides new avenues for active, reconfigurable optical and microwave structures. This review introduces recent developments in 3D and 4D printing, with emphasis on topics that are interesting for the nanophotonics and metaphotonics communities. In this article, we have first discussed functional materials for 3D and 4D printing. Then, we have presented the various designs and applications of 3D and 4D printing in the optical, terahertz, and microwave domains. 3D printing can be ideal for customized, nonconventional optical components and complex metaphotonic structures. Furthermore, with various printable smart materials, 4D printing might provide a unique platform for active and reconfigurable structures. Therefore, 3D and 4D printing can introduce unprecedented opportunities in optics and metaphotonics and may have applications in freeform optics, integrated optical and optoelectronic devices, displays, optical sensors, antennas, active and tunable photonic devices, and biomedicine. Abundant new opportunities exist for exploration.

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3D printed optics with nanometer scale surface roughness

Cited by 80 publications

References 20 publications

Multi-element lenslet array for efficient solar collection at extreme angles of incidence

Multi-element lenslet array for efficient solar collection at extreme angles of incidence

Smart Lenses with Electrically Tuneable Astigmatism

3D and 4D printing for optics and metaphotonics

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