Issue 14, 2009
From the journal:

Lab on a Chip

Tunable Liquid Gradient Refractive Index (L-GRIN) lens with two degrees of freedom†

Xiaole Mao,ab   Sz-Chin Steven Lin,a   Michael Ian Lapsley,a   Jinjie Shi,a   Bala Krishna Juluria  and  Tony Jun Huang*ab  

* Corresponding authors

a Department of Engineering Science and Mechanics, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
E-mail: junhuang@psu.edu
Fax: +1 814-865-9974
Tel: +1 814-863-4209

b Department of Bioengineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA

Abstract

We report a tunable optofluidic microlens configuration named the Liquid Gradient Refractive Index (L-GRIN) lens for focusing light within a microfluidic device. The focusing of light was achieved through the gradient refractive index (GRIN) within the liquid medium, rather than via curved refractive lens surfaces. The diffusion of solute (CaCl2) between side-by-side co-injected microfluidic laminar flows was utilized to establish a hyperbolic secant (HS) refractive index profile to focus light. Tailoring the refractive index profile by adjusting the flow conditions enables not only tuning of the focal distance (translation mode), but also shifting of the output light direction (swing mode), a second degree of freedom that to our knowledge has yet to be accomplished for in-plane tunable microlenses. Advantages of the L-GRIN lens also include a low fluid consumption rate, competitive focusing performance, and high compatibility with existing microfluidic devices. This work provides a new strategy for developing integrative tunable microlenses for a variety of lab-on-a-chip applications.

Graphical abstract: Tunable Liquid Gradient Refractive Index (L-GRIN) lens with two degrees of freedom

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Article information

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1039/B822982A
Article type
Paper
Submitted
19 Dec 2008
Accepted
25 Mar 2009
First published
15 Apr 2009

Lab Chip, 2009,9, 2050-2058

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Tunable Liquid Gradient Refractive Index (L-GRIN) lens with two degrees of freedom

X. Mao, S. S. Lin, M. I. Lapsley, J. Shi, B. K. Juluri and T. J. Huang, Lab Chip, 2009, 9, 2050 DOI: 10.1039/B822982A

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