We report on the fabrication and characterization of a new generation of electro-switchable optofluidic devices, based on flexible substrates, combined with the extraordinary properties of reconfigurable soft-materials. A conductive polydimethylsiloxane microstructure has been first sputtered with an Indium Tin Oxide layer and then functionalized with an amorphous film of SiOx; then, the “layer” by “layer” microstructure has been infiltrated with an anisotropic and reconfigurable fluid (Nematic Liquid Crystal, NLC). The sample has been characterized in terms of morphological, optical and electro-optical properties: the soft-conductive microstructure exhibits a uniform and regular morphology also after testing with mechanical stretching and deformations. Combination of the conductive ITO with the functionalization film (which has been employed for inducing in-plane alignment of NLC molecules) enables to carry out a series of optical and electro-optical experiments; these confirm excellent properties in terms of reconfigurable device and diffractive element as well.

Electro-switchable polydimethylsiloxane-based optofluidics

DE LUCA, Antonio;UMETON, Cesare Paolo
2012-01-01

Abstract

We report on the fabrication and characterization of a new generation of electro-switchable optofluidic devices, based on flexible substrates, combined with the extraordinary properties of reconfigurable soft-materials. A conductive polydimethylsiloxane microstructure has been first sputtered with an Indium Tin Oxide layer and then functionalized with an amorphous film of SiOx; then, the “layer” by “layer” microstructure has been infiltrated with an anisotropic and reconfigurable fluid (Nematic Liquid Crystal, NLC). The sample has been characterized in terms of morphological, optical and electro-optical properties: the soft-conductive microstructure exhibits a uniform and regular morphology also after testing with mechanical stretching and deformations. Combination of the conductive ITO with the functionalization film (which has been employed for inducing in-plane alignment of NLC molecules) enables to carry out a series of optical and electro-optical experiments; these confirm excellent properties in terms of reconfigurable device and diffractive element as well.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11770/145305
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