Thermal-responsive high-quality hydrogel microlens arrays with tunable focal lengths

Ruijue Duan; Zihao Zeng; Tianfeng Zhou; Mingchao Zhang; Lei Li; Xianbing Zeng; Juncai Song; Yue Yin; Guanghao Wu; Yubing Guo

doi:10.1364/AO.571769

Thermal-responsive high-quality hydrogel microlens arrays with tunable focal lengths

Ruijue Duan, Zihao Zeng, Tianfeng Zhou, Mingchao Zhang, Lei Li, Xianbing Zeng, Juncai Song, Yue Yin, Guanghao Wu, Yubing Guo^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Microlens arrays (MLAs) have seen significant advancements in optical imaging, three-dimensional (3D) displays, and laser applications. However, conventional fixed-focus MLAs face limitations in scenarios requiring dynamic focal length adjustments. This work demonstrates a high-throughput fabrication strategy for spherical hydrogel-based microlens arrays (HMLAs) with tunable focal length and ultra-low surface roughness. Under thermal actuation, the HMLAs enable isotropic 3D deformation that preserves precise spherical lens geometry, ensuring excellent focusing capability. In addition, the HMLAs exhibit excellent optical transmittance and reversible focal length modulation over a range spanning from 7.0 to 10.0 mm, which allows for a simulated endoscopic depth-scanning imaging system with designable scanning depths. These advancements pave the way for next-generation adaptive optics technologies, particularly in medical endoscopy, where space-constrained, depth-variable imaging proves essential for tissue differentiation and minimally invasive procedures.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	8513-8521
Number of pages	9
Journal	Applied Optics
Volume	64
Issue number	28
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1364/AO.571769
Publication status	Published - 1 Oct 2025
Externally published	Yes

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title = "Thermal-responsive high-quality hydrogel microlens arrays with tunable focal lengths",

abstract = "Microlens arrays (MLAs) have seen significant advancements in optical imaging, three-dimensional (3D) displays, and laser applications. However, conventional fixed-focus MLAs face limitations in scenarios requiring dynamic focal length adjustments. This work demonstrates a high-throughput fabrication strategy for spherical hydrogel-based microlens arrays (HMLAs) with tunable focal length and ultra-low surface roughness. Under thermal actuation, the HMLAs enable isotropic 3D deformation that preserves precise spherical lens geometry, ensuring excellent focusing capability. In addition, the HMLAs exhibit excellent optical transmittance and reversible focal length modulation over a range spanning from 7.0 to 10.0 mm, which allows for a simulated endoscopic depth-scanning imaging system with designable scanning depths. These advancements pave the way for next-generation adaptive optics technologies, particularly in medical endoscopy, where space-constrained, depth-variable imaging proves essential for tissue differentiation and minimally invasive procedures.",

author = "Ruijue Duan and Zihao Zeng and Tianfeng Zhou and Mingchao Zhang and Lei Li and Xianbing Zeng and Juncai Song and Yue Yin and Guanghao Wu and Yubing Guo",

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doi = "10.1364/AO.571769",

language = "English",

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AU - Duan, Ruijue

AU - Zeng, Zihao

AU - Zhou, Tianfeng

AU - Zhang, Mingchao

AU - Li, Lei

AU - Zeng, Xianbing

AU - Song, Juncai

AU - Yin, Yue

AU - Wu, Guanghao

AU - Guo, Yubing

PY - 2025/10/1

Y1 - 2025/10/1

N2 - Microlens arrays (MLAs) have seen significant advancements in optical imaging, three-dimensional (3D) displays, and laser applications. However, conventional fixed-focus MLAs face limitations in scenarios requiring dynamic focal length adjustments. This work demonstrates a high-throughput fabrication strategy for spherical hydrogel-based microlens arrays (HMLAs) with tunable focal length and ultra-low surface roughness. Under thermal actuation, the HMLAs enable isotropic 3D deformation that preserves precise spherical lens geometry, ensuring excellent focusing capability. In addition, the HMLAs exhibit excellent optical transmittance and reversible focal length modulation over a range spanning from 7.0 to 10.0 mm, which allows for a simulated endoscopic depth-scanning imaging system with designable scanning depths. These advancements pave the way for next-generation adaptive optics technologies, particularly in medical endoscopy, where space-constrained, depth-variable imaging proves essential for tissue differentiation and minimally invasive procedures.

AB - Microlens arrays (MLAs) have seen significant advancements in optical imaging, three-dimensional (3D) displays, and laser applications. However, conventional fixed-focus MLAs face limitations in scenarios requiring dynamic focal length adjustments. This work demonstrates a high-throughput fabrication strategy for spherical hydrogel-based microlens arrays (HMLAs) with tunable focal length and ultra-low surface roughness. Under thermal actuation, the HMLAs enable isotropic 3D deformation that preserves precise spherical lens geometry, ensuring excellent focusing capability. In addition, the HMLAs exhibit excellent optical transmittance and reversible focal length modulation over a range spanning from 7.0 to 10.0 mm, which allows for a simulated endoscopic depth-scanning imaging system with designable scanning depths. These advancements pave the way for next-generation adaptive optics technologies, particularly in medical endoscopy, where space-constrained, depth-variable imaging proves essential for tissue differentiation and minimally invasive procedures.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105017846711

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DO - 10.1364/AO.571769

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SN - 1559-128X

VL - 64

SP - 8513

EP - 8521

JO - Applied Optics

JF - Applied Optics

IS - 28

ER -

Thermal-responsive high-quality hydrogel microlens arrays with tunable focal lengths

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