Polymer Network Liquid Crystal (PNLC) Lenticular Microlens Array With No Surface Treatment

A polymer network liquid crystal (PNLC) lenticular microlens array with no surface treatment is prepared. Before polymerization, the LC and diacrylate monomers are reoriented with gradient refractive index distribution by a fringing field. After polymerization, the oriented LC is stabilized by the polymer network. The prepared PNLC lenticular microlens array is optically anisotropic. Without surface treatment, the device fabrication is simplified, and it can present almost the same optical performance as the PNLC lenticular microlens with surface treatment. Integrating with a 90° twisted-nematic LC cell, the PNLC lenticular microlens array can be switched between a focusing state and non-focusing state. Such a PNLC lenticular microlens array has potential application in switchable 2D/3D displays.