Optical properties of poly(vinyl chloride)-gel-based microlens arrays

We use a poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) gel and an electrode to fabricate adaptive microlens arrays (MLAs). The electrode has a zoned-array pattern. By applying a direct current voltage to the electrode, the PVC gel on each zoned electrode exhibited the character of a lens. The imaging of the MLA can be analyzed using either an optical microscope or a beam profiler or both. The topography of the PVC gel can be measured using an optical surface profiler. Compared to the imaging and focusing, the topographic map can discover additional information about the performances of the MLA. For example, the focal length of each lens in the MLA can be calculated precisely, and the aberration of the MLA can also be evaluated. Results show that the surface profile is an important factor for characterizing the performance of PVC-gel-based MLA. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47407.