Liquid micro-lens array activated by selective electrowetting on lithium niobate substrates

Opt Express. 2008 May 26;16(11):8084-93. doi: 10.1364/oe.16.008084.

Abstract

Lens effect was obtained in an open microfluidic system by using a thin layer of liquid on a polar electric crystal like LiNbO3. An array of liquid micro-lenses was generated by electrowetting effect in pyroelectric periodically poled crystals. Compared to conventional electrowetting devices, the pyroelectric effect allowed to have an electrode-less and circuit-less configuration. An interferometric technique was used to characterize the curvature of the micro-lenses and the corresponding results are presented and discussed. The preliminary results concerning the imaging capability of the micro-lens array are also reported.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Computer Simulation
  • Computer-Aided Design*
  • Electromagnetic Fields
  • Electronics / instrumentation*
  • Equipment Design
  • Equipment Failure Analysis
  • Lenses*
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Niobium / chemistry*
  • Niobium / radiation effects
  • Oxides / chemistry*
  • Oxides / radiation effects
  • Solutions

Substances

  • Oxides
  • Solutions
  • Niobium
  • lithium niobate