Premium
Nanocomposite‐based stretchable optics
Author(s) -
Ghisleri Cristian,
Siano Mirko,
Ravagnan Luca,
Potenza Marco Alberto Carlo,
Milani Paolo
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
laser and photonics reviews
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.778
H-Index - 116
eISSN - 1863-8899
pISSN - 1863-8880
DOI - 10.1002/lpor.201300078
Subject(s) - materials science , nanocomposite , conformable matrix , fabrication , elastomer , optical power , optoelectronics , lens (geology) , substrate (aquarium) , optics , nanotechnology , composite material , laser , medicine , oceanography , alternative medicine , physics , pathology , geology
Stretchable and conformable optical devices open up very exciting perspectives for the fabrication of systems incorporating diffracting and optical power in a single element. Supersonic cluster beam implantation of silver nanoparticles in an elastomeric substrate grooved by molding allows effective fabrication of cheap and simple stretchable optical elements able to withstand thousands of deformations and stretching cycles without any degradation of their optical properties. The nanocomposite‐based reflective optical devices were characterized both morphologically and optically showing excellent performances and stability compared to similar devices fabricated with standard techniques. The nanocomposite‐based devices can therefore be applied to arbitrary curved nonoptical grade surfaces in order to achieve optical power and to minimize aberrations like astigmatism. The high resilience of the nanocomposite material on which the devices are based allows them to be peeled and reused multiple times.