Laser 3D Printing of Inorganic Free-Form Micro-Optics

A pilot study on laser 3D printing of inorganic free-form micro-optics is experimentally validated. Ultrafast laser direct-write (LDW) nanolithography is employed for structuring hybrid organic-inorganic material SZ2080TM followed by high-temperature calcination post-processing. The combination allows the production of 3D architectures and the heat-treatment results in converting the material to inorganic substances. The produced miniature optical elements are characterized and their optical performance is demonstrated. Finally, the concept is validated for manufacturing compound optical components such as stacked lenses. This is an opening for new directions and applications of laser-made micro-optics under harsh conditions such as high intensity radiation, temperature, acidic environment, pressure variations, which include open space, astrophotonics, and remote sensing.

Polymer Characterization

As discussed in section 10.1007/978-3-658-35926-3_2, the characterization of cross-linking and especially its spatial distribution is crucial for the fabrication of micro optics, MEMS, and semiconductors. Some studies have found that the measurement of the refractive index over the cross-linking process can be used as an indicator for the degree of cross-linking of a sample. According to Kudo et al., [130], the cross-linking of a polymeric material leads to a densification which can be directly related to an increase in refractive index using the Lorentz-Lorenz equation.

Laser 3D Printing of Inorganic Free-Form Micro-Optics

A pilot study on laser 3D printing of inorganic free-form micro-optics is experimentally validated. Ultrafast laser nanolithography is employed for structuring hybrid organic-inorganic material SZ2080TM followed by high-temperature calcination post-processing. The combination allows production of 3D architectures and the heat-treatment results in converting the material to inorganic substance. The produced miniature optical elements are characterized and their optical performance demonstrated. Finally, the concept is validated for manufacturing compound optical components such as stacked lenses. This is opening for new directions and applications of laser made microoptics under harsh conditions such as high intensity radiation, temperature, acidic environment, pressure variations, which include open space, astrophotonics, and remote sensing.

2D Perovskite Micro-optics Enabled by Direct Femtosecond-Laser Projection Lithography

Using direct femtosecond-laser projection lithography in chemically synthesized CsPbBr3 perovskite microcrystals we demonstrate high-throughput fabrication of advanced binary microscale optical elements for nanofocusing as well as generation of high-order optical vortex beams. The obtained results highlight the CsPbBr3 microcrystals as a promising material for realization of various complicated 2D micro-optical elements and holograms that can be directly imprinted using non-destructive and practically relevant laser technologies.

Two-photon-polymerization enabled and enhanced multi-channel fibre switch

This article discusses the fabrication and performance of a multi-channel fibre switch, consisting of 19 single-mode fibres, with enhanced coupling efficiency due to micro-optics, directly printed via two-photon-polymerization on the end-face of each fibre. The use of high-resolution two-photon-polymerization not only allows the enhancement of the coupling efficiency with respect to the coupling device in use but likewise offers great freedom in the arrangement of the used fibres. This letter gives a thorough explanation of the fabrication method as well as the optical simulations for the lenses on the fibre assembly.