Self-organization of planar microlenses by periodic precipitation

Arrays of planar, Fresnel-like microlenses are prepared by a spontaneous chemical process of periodic precipitation (PP) occurring in a thin layer of a dry gel, and initiated by wet stamping. The PP lenses focus white light more efficiently than the conventional Fresnel zone plates of similar dimensions. Nanoscale topographies of the micropatterned gels can be replicated into transparent elastomers, and used for focusing based on optical path differences. Experimental observations for both types of structures are in agreement with the Fresnel diffraction calculations. (c) 2005 American Institute of Physics.