Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Three-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology01:28

Three-Dimensional Microscopy in Microbiology

Three-dimensional imaging techniques are essential in cell biology, allowing researchers to visualize intricate cellular structures with high resolution. Two prominent methods, Differential Interference Contrast Microscopy (DIC) and Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy (CSLM), provide distinct advantages for imaging live and thick specimens, respectively.Differential Interference Contrast MicroscopyDIC microscopy enhances contrast in transparent, unstained samples by converting phase...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Image Formation and Resolution in Spatially Variant Coherent Imaging Systems.

Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same author

Extended Field of View and Resolution Enhancement in Lensless Digital Holography.

Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same author

Temperature-Dependent Residual Stress and Optical Properties of Asymmetric W-Doped VO<sub>2</sub>-Based Trilayer Thin Films.

Materials (Basel, Switzerland)·2026
Same author

Thermal Analysis and Hybrid Compensation Design of a 10× Optical Zoom Periscope Lens for Smartphones.

Micromachines·2026
Same author

Design of an Afocal Telescope System Integrated with Digital Imaging for Enhanced Optical Performance.

Micromachines·2026
Same author

Low-Cost Optical-Inertial Point Cloud Acquisition and Sketch System.

Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Patterning via Optical Saturable Transitions - Fabrication and Characterization
08:19

Patterning via Optical Saturable Transitions - Fabrication and Characterization

Published on: December 11, 2014

6.8K

Creating Tunable Micro-Optical Components via Photopolymerization 3D Printing Combined with Polymer-Dispersed Liquid

Sheng-Yuan Zhang1, Hsi-Fu Shih1, Chuen-Lin Tien2

  • 1Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 40227, Taiwan.

Micromachines
|January 25, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces tunable micro-optical components using 3D printing and polymer-dispersed liquid crystals (PDLCs). These components, like diffraction gratings, can switch optical functions with an electric field.

Keywords:
3D printingFresnel zone platediffraction gratingphotopolymerizationpolymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC)

More Related Videos

Fabrication of Polymer Microspheres for Optical Resonator and Laser Applications
08:06

Fabrication of Polymer Microspheres for Optical Resonator and Laser Applications

Published on: June 2, 2017

14.0K
Author Spotlight: Modular Neuronal Networks for Analyzing Brain Functions
07:38

Author Spotlight: Modular Neuronal Networks for Analyzing Brain Functions

Published on: June 7, 2024

1.4K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Patterning via Optical Saturable Transitions - Fabrication and Characterization
08:19

Patterning via Optical Saturable Transitions - Fabrication and Characterization

Published on: December 11, 2014

6.8K
Fabrication of Polymer Microspheres for Optical Resonator and Laser Applications
08:06

Fabrication of Polymer Microspheres for Optical Resonator and Laser Applications

Published on: June 2, 2017

14.0K
Author Spotlight: Modular Neuronal Networks for Analyzing Brain Functions
07:38

Author Spotlight: Modular Neuronal Networks for Analyzing Brain Functions

Published on: June 7, 2024

1.4K

Area of Science:

  • Optics and Photonics
  • Materials Science
  • Additive Manufacturing

Background:

  • Micro-optical components are crucial for advanced optical systems.
  • Tunable optical elements offer dynamic control over light manipulation.
  • Integrating liquid crystal technology with 3D printing presents new fabrication possibilities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop and demonstrate tunable micro-optical components using additive manufacturing and polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) technology.
  • To create switchable diffraction gratings and Fresnel zone plates with controllable optical functions.
  • To verify the feasibility of integrating 3D printed structures with PDLCs for tunable optics.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing additive manufacturing via photopolymerization with a liquid crystal display (LCD) 3D printer.
  • Designing and simulating diffraction gratings and Fresnel zone plates for specific optical functions.
  • Fabricating structures on transparent conductive substrates and filling them with PDLCs.

Main Results:

  • Achieved switchable optical functions in 3D printed micro-optical components.
  • Demonstrated a significant increase in 0th-order diffraction efficiency from 15% to 50% for diffraction gratings under an electric field.
  • Observed a decrease in focusing spot intensity from 74% to 12% for Fresnel zone plates when an electric field was applied.

Conclusions:

  • The proposed method successfully integrates PDLC technology with 3D printing for tunable micro-optical components.
  • The experimental results validate the feasibility and effectiveness of the designed tunable optical elements.
  • This approach offers a promising pathway for creating reconfigurable optical devices.