Yong Jiale, Bian Hao, Yang Qing, Hou Xun, Chen Feng
State Key Laboratory for Manufacturing System Engineering and Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Photonics Technology for Information, School of Electronic Science and Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
Front Chem. 2020 Sep 29;8:575786. doi: 10.3389/fchem.2020.575786. eCollection 2020.
Microlens arrays (MLAs) and MLA-based artificial compound eyes (ACEs) are the important miniaturized optical components in modern micro-optical systems. However, their optical performance will seriously decline once they are wetted by water droplets (such as fog, dew, and rain droplets) or are polluted by contaminations in a humid environment. In this mini-review, we summarize the research works related to the fabrication of superwetting MLAs and ACEs and show how to integrate superhydrophobic and superoleophobic microstructures with an MLA. The fabrication strategy can be split into two categories. One is the hybrid pattern composed of the MLA domain and the superwetting domain. Another is the direct formation of superwetting nanostructures on the surface of the microlenses. The superhydrophobicity or superoleophobicity endows the MLAs and ACEs with liquid repellence and self-cleaning function besides excellent optical performance. We believe that the superwetting MLAs and ACEs will have significant applications in various optical systems that are often used in the humid or liquid environment.
微透镜阵列（MLAs）和基于MLA的人工复眼（ACEs）是现代微光学系统中重要的小型化光学元件。然而，一旦它们被水滴（如雾、露和雨滴）润湿或在潮湿环境中被污染物污染，其光学性能将严重下降。在本综述中，我们总结了与超润湿MLAs和ACEs制造相关的研究工作，并展示了如何将超疏水和超疏油微结构与MLA集成。制造策略可分为两类。一类是由MLA域和超润湿域组成的混合图案。另一类是在微透镜表面直接形成超润湿纳米结构。超疏水性或超疏油性除了赋予MLAs和ACEs优异的光学性能外，还赋予它们拒液和自清洁功能。我们相信，超润湿MLAs和ACEs将在经常用于潮湿或液体环境的各种光学系统中具有重要应用。
