Abstract
High-performance polymer microlens arrays were fabricated by means of withdrawing substrates of patterned wettability from a monomer solution. The f-number (f#) of formed microlenses was controlled by adjustment of monomer viscosity and surface tension, substrate dipping angle and withdrawal speed, the array fill factor, and the number of dip coats used. An optimum withdrawal speed was identified at which f# was minimized and array uniformity was maximized. At this optimum, arrays of f/3.48 microlenses were fabricated with one dip coat with uniformity of better than Δf/f˜±3.8%. Multiple dip coats allowed for production of f/1.38 lens arrays and uniformity of better than Δf/f˜±5.9%. Average f#s were reproducible to within 3.5%. A model was developed to describe the fluid-transfer process by which monomer solution assembles on the hydrophilic domains. The model agrees well with experimental trends.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 2736-2746 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Applied Optics |
Volume | 40 |
Issue number | 16 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 1 2001 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
- Engineering (miscellaneous)
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering