Electrically controlled hole-patterned tunable-focus lens with polymer dispersed liquid crystal doped with Ag nanoparticles

In this study, we investigated the electrically controlled tunable-focus characteristics of a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) lens doped with Ag nanoparticles (NPs). The design and simulation of a circular lens and cylindrical lens show that a good lens effect closely depends on the size of etched circular and rectangular holes. Our results show a good focusing effect for 0.5 and 1 mm diameter circular lenses and 1 × 5 mm and 0.5 × 2.5 mm cylindrical lenses. In addition, the measured focal length of the PDLC lens is consistent with the simulation results. The circular lens and cylindrical lens have good electrically controlled tunable-focus properties when the applied voltage is 100 Vrms and 80 Vrms, respectively. Moreover, incorporated Ag nanoparticles function to improve transmittance of the PDLC lens. The advantages of controlled flexibility, easy fabrication, and small size of such a PDLC lens have wide applications within imaging and three-dimensional displays.