Microfabrication of a spherically curved liquid crystal display enabling the integration in a smart contact lens

A spherically curved liquid crystal display based on a guest-host liquid crystal configuration is fabricated. An asymmetric display design is introduced: two flexible display substrates with varying surface area are used, allowing for compact integration of powering and driving electronics. A matrix of spacer structures composed of photosensitive adhesive and defined by photolithography, simultaneously provides the uniform cell gap while acting as glue between both display substrates. Using poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as transparent, conductive electrode layer and obliquely evaporated SiO2 as alignment layer, a functional single-pixel display was fabricated. The display can be embedded in a smart contact lens, thereby enabling applications within the emerging biomedical field. An artificial iris, for example, could be designed to help people suffering from iris deficiencies that involve hypersensitivity to light.