Zhao You-Ran, Li Zhao-Song, Zheng Yi, Wang Di, Lu Xiao-Ke, Lin Yu-Cheng, Zhang Hao-Ran, Liu Chao, Wang Qiong-Hua
School of Instrumentation and Optoelectronic Engineering, Beihang University, 100191, Beijing, China.
Light Sci Appl. 2025 Mar 12;14(1):120. doi: 10.1038/s41377-025-01777-2.
Liquid lens offers a novel approach to achieving large depth of field, wide viewing angle, high speed, and high-quality imaging in zoom optical systems. However, the aperture and reliability limit the lens's performance in various optical applications. The liquid material is crucial for the reliability of the large-aperture liquid lens. To solve the dielectric failure problem associated with the large aperture, we first reveal the mechanism of dielectric failure based on the transport properties of electrolyte solutions and the impact of electrochemical reaction rates from physical chemistry so as to propose a theoretical method to suppress dielectric failure fundamentally. Based on this theory, we develop a series of non-aqueous organic solutions to suppress high-voltage dielectric failure. Next, we identify the optimal formulation for comprehensive optical performance and fabricate a centimeter-level large-aperture electrowetting liquid lens. This lens features an optical power variation range of -11.98 m to 12.93 m, with clear and high-quality imaging function, which can enlarge the field of view and depth adjustment range of holographic reconstructions while maintaining excellent edge clarity of the reconstructed images. The proposed centimeter-level large-aperture non-aqueous electrowetting liquid lens effectively suppresses dielectric failure under high voltage, demonstrates excellent optical performance, and holds exciting potential for applications in 3D display, precision measurement, biomedical observation, and more.
液体透镜为在变焦光学系统中实现大景深、宽视角、高速和高质量成像提供了一种新颖的方法。然而，孔径和可靠性限制了该透镜在各种光学应用中的性能。液体材料对于大孔径液体透镜的可靠性至关重要。为了解决与大孔径相关的介电失效问题，我们首先基于电解质溶液的传输特性以及物理化学中电化学反应速率的影响揭示介电失效的机制，从而提出一种从根本上抑制介电失效的理论方法。基于该理论，我们开发了一系列非水有机溶液来抑制高压介电失效。接下来，我们确定了综合光学性能的最佳配方，并制造了厘米级大孔径电润湿液体透镜。该透镜的光焦度变化范围为-11.98 m至12.93 m，具有清晰且高质量的成像功能，在保持重建图像出色边缘清晰度的同时，可以扩大全息重建的视野和深度调节范围。所提出的厘米级大孔径非水电润湿液体透镜有效抑制了高压下的介电失效，展现出优异的光学性能，在3D显示、精密测量、生物医学观察等领域具有令人兴奋的应用潜力。
