Fabrication and Characterization of GRIN Plastic Rods Containing Silver Nanoparticles with Novel Surfmers

Tunable multilayered lens made of PDMS with a biconical surface profile design and manufacture

A polymer that has been used for the development of optical components and has had a significant impact is polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) due to its remarkable mechanical and optical properties and easy handling. We present a practical and straightforward technique for designing and manufacturing a tunable graded index, graphical input (GRIN)-type lenses, and tunable lenses with a homogeneous refractive index made of PDMS. Implementing a biconical surface profile in a tunable plane-convex lens is proposed for elaborating both a homogeneous refractive index lens and a multilayered GRIN-type lens with a constant increased variation of 0.014 on its refractive index. Likewise, we introduce a mechanical mounting system that aims to modify their curvatures and therefore their focal lengths through mechanical stimuli applied on the lenses. Simulations of the optomechanical behavior and optical characterization of the lenses are also presented.

Process equipped with a sloped UV lamp for the fabrication of gradient-refractive-index lenses

In this investigation, a method for the preparation of gradient-refractive-index (GRIN) lenses by UV-energy-controlled polymerization has been developed. A glass reaction tube equipped with a sloped UV lamp was designed. Methyl methacrylate and diphenyl sulfide were used as the reactive monomer and nonreactive dopant, respectively. Ciba IRGACURE 184 (1-hydroxy-cyclohexyl-phenyl-ketone) was used as the initiator. The effects of initiator concentration, the addition of acrylic polymers, and the preparation conditions on the optical characteristics of the GRIN lenses produced by this method were also investigated. Refractive index distributions and image transmission properties were estimated for all GRIN lenses prepared.

Fabrication and characterization of a novel inclusion complex of chiral monomer derived from (+)-camphor with beta-cyclodextrins

In order to develop a highly ordered polymer dopant to improve the physical properties of polymer materials for microsystems, a novel supramolecular inclusion complex (IC) of chiral bornyl 4-(6-acryloyloxyhexyloxy) phenyl-4'-benzoate ( BAPB) threaded with beta-cyclodextrins (beta-CDs) was synthesized. The inclusion complex was identified using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV, 13C cross-polarization/magic-angle spinning (CP/MAS) NMR, 1H NMR, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The construction of the fibrous self-assembled inclusion complex was confirmed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques. The highly ordered polymerized inclusion complex beta-CD-BAPB revealed significant birefringence and was confirmed using polarized optical microscopy (POM). Polymerization of self-assembled nanofibrous monomers with methyl methacrylate was carried out, and the distribution of the nanofibers in the polymer matrix was confirmed using POM. This investigation demonstrates a novel method for the fabrication of polymeric nanofibers with highly ordered, self-assembled functional monomers. The polymeric nanofibers are expected to improve the physical properties of polymer films in the field of microelectric and micromachine systems (MEMS).

A Full-Color Electroluminescent Device and Patterned Photoalignment Using Light-Emitting Liquid Crystals

Blue, green, and red polymerizable light-emitting liquid crystals have been patterned photolithographically in a full-color liquid-crystal electroluminescent display. A new hole-transporting photoalignment copolymer is also reported and the spatial patterning of the polarization direction of emission is demonstrated.