New nano device offers hope for smart contact lenses
9 Mar 2016 by Evoluted New Media
Australian researchers have created a stretchable nanoscale device capable of manipulating light.
Australian researchers have created a stretchable nanoscale device capable of manipulating light.
The device can filter specific colours and could possibly be used for smart contact lenses. The lenses would also be able to filter harmful optical radiation while not affecting vision. It could even display information like a heads up display.
Dr Withawat Withayachumnankul, a researcher from the University of Adelaide said: "Manipulation of light using these artificial crystals uses precise engineering.
"With advanced techniques to control the properties of surfaces, we can dynamically control their filter properties, which allow us to potentially create devices for high data-rate optical communication or smart contact lenses.”
Tiny artificial crystals of titanium oxide – dielectric resonators – 100 to 200nm in size, were created to manipulate the light. The crystals were then embedded on a rubber-like material.
Associate Professor Madhu Bhaskaran, from RMIT University in Australia, said: “By engineering the shape of these common materials, we can create a device that changes properties when stretched. This modifies the way the light interacts with and travels through the device, which holds promise of making smart contact lenses and stretchable colour changing surfaces."
Combining the titanium dioxide with the rubber like material and achieving nanoscale features were the major challenge during the project, according to lead author Dr Phillip Gutruf. He said the technology meant light weight wearable optical components were possible as a result of this research.
The work was published in ACS Nano.
