Phototunable Microlens Array Based on Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystals

A microfluidic system is designed to fabricate polymer dispersed liquid crystal microspheres, whose shape, surface smoothness, and size are controlled. A microlens array (MLA) is constructed by the assembly of the monodispersed microspheres. In the MLA, each microsphere acts as a separate imaging unit. As the liquid crystal (LC) used is a mixed liquid crystal that contain photoresponsive 4-butyl-4-methoxyazobenzene, the imaging capability and light transportation of the MLA can be reversibly controlled by light irradiation.