Environmentally responsive active optics based on hydrogel-actuated deformable mirror arrays

Philseok Kim, Lauren D. Zarzar, Mughees Khan, Michael Aizenberg, Joanna Aizenberg

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

We report hybrid polymer actuator arrays based on environmentally responsive hydrogel and actuatable optical microstructures that are designed to reversibly switch optical properties in response to the environment. Arrays of micrometer scale plates were patterned by deep reactive ion etching of silicon which served as master structures for replica molding in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). UV-curable epoxy was cast in a metal-sputtered PDMS mold to transfer a thin metal film onto each microplate to form a micromirror array. Polyelectrolyte hydrogel, such as poly(acrylamide-co-acrylic acid), was patterned on the micromirror array and acted as an artificial muscle, bending the micromirrors in response to the change in humidity or pH. Such hybrid systems showed reversible switching between high transmittance (low reflectivity) and low transmittance (high reflectivity) without the aid of external power. Our design of hybrid actuated optics opens a broad avenue for developing environmentally responsive adaptive and active optics.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationAdvanced Fabrication Technologies for Micro/Nano Optics and Photonics IV
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 11 2011
EventAdvanced Fabrication Technologies for Micro/Nano Optics and Photonics IV - San Francisco, CA, United States
Duration: Jan 25 2011Jan 26 2011

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume7927
ISSN (Print)0277-786X

Other

OtherAdvanced Fabrication Technologies for Micro/Nano Optics and Photonics IV
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CitySan Francisco, CA
Period1/25/111/26/11

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Applied Mathematics
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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