Development of 4D printed smart fresnel lenses: dynamic photochromic and UV-blocking capabilities via vat photopolymerization

Advancements in additive manufacturing (AM) are revolutionizing 3D part production, making 3D printing crucial for creating optical devices like lenses and waveguides. This study employs vat photopolymerization (VPP) to fabricate adaptive 4D printed smart Fresnel lenses with photochromic properties...

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Main Authors: Bilal Bukhari, Murad Ali, Rashid K. Abu Al-Rub, Haider Butt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Light Publishing Group 2025-04-01
Series:Light: Advanced Manufacturing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.light-am.com/article/doi/10.37188/lam.2025.011
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author Bilal Bukhari
Murad Ali
Rashid K. Abu Al-Rub
Haider Butt
author_facet Bilal Bukhari
Murad Ali
Rashid K. Abu Al-Rub
Haider Butt
author_sort Bilal Bukhari
collection DOAJ
description Advancements in additive manufacturing (AM) are revolutionizing 3D part production, making 3D printing crucial for creating optical devices like lenses and waveguides. This study employs vat photopolymerization (VPP) to fabricate adaptive 4D printed smart Fresnel lenses with photochromic properties using digital light processing (DLP). These lenses are fabricated with precise optical performance and geometric dimensions. Photochromic powders enable dynamic color changes upon UV exposure. The lenses were optically evaluated in both inactive and active states, demonstrating excellent UV and blue light blocking when inactive. Upon UV activation, the lenses darken and absorb parts of the visible light spectrum, with the degree of absorption and color change dependent on the photochromic material and its concentration. The lenses show minimal focal length errors, maintaining high precision and UV responsiveness even at low concentrations. This research highlights the lenses’ precision, UV responsiveness, blue light filtering capabilities, and stability after multiple UV exposure cycles. These findings underscore the potential of 4D printing in developing smart optical devices tailored for applications that demand dynamic light modulation and UV filtering, highlighting a combination of innovative manufacturing techniques and functional optics.
format Article
id doaj-art-e038d423742b425ab960d62cedf2af0a
institution Kabale University
issn 2689-9620
language English
publishDate 2025-04-01
publisher Light Publishing Group
record_format Article
series Light: Advanced Manufacturing
spelling doaj-art-e038d423742b425ab960d62cedf2af0a2025-08-20T03:59:32ZengLight Publishing GroupLight: Advanced Manufacturing2689-96202025-04-01619210710.37188/lam.2025.011Development of 4D printed smart fresnel lenses: dynamic photochromic and UV-blocking capabilities via vat photopolymerizationBilal Bukhari0Murad Alihttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-0939-7759Rashid K. Abu Al-RubHaider ButtDepartment of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, P.O. Box 127788, United Arab EmiratesAdvancements in additive manufacturing (AM) are revolutionizing 3D part production, making 3D printing crucial for creating optical devices like lenses and waveguides. This study employs vat photopolymerization (VPP) to fabricate adaptive 4D printed smart Fresnel lenses with photochromic properties using digital light processing (DLP). These lenses are fabricated with precise optical performance and geometric dimensions. Photochromic powders enable dynamic color changes upon UV exposure. The lenses were optically evaluated in both inactive and active states, demonstrating excellent UV and blue light blocking when inactive. Upon UV activation, the lenses darken and absorb parts of the visible light spectrum, with the degree of absorption and color change dependent on the photochromic material and its concentration. The lenses show minimal focal length errors, maintaining high precision and UV responsiveness even at low concentrations. This research highlights the lenses’ precision, UV responsiveness, blue light filtering capabilities, and stability after multiple UV exposure cycles. These findings underscore the potential of 4D printing in developing smart optical devices tailored for applications that demand dynamic light modulation and UV filtering, highlighting a combination of innovative manufacturing techniques and functional optics.https://www.light-am.com/article/doi/10.37188/lam.2025.011additive manufacturing3d printing4d printedfresnel lensesphotochromic propertiesdigital light processing (dlp)vat photopolymerization
spellingShingle Bilal Bukhari
Murad Ali
Rashid K. Abu Al-Rub
Haider Butt
Development of 4D printed smart fresnel lenses: dynamic photochromic and UV-blocking capabilities via vat photopolymerization
Light: Advanced Manufacturing
additive manufacturing
3d printing
4d printed
fresnel lenses
photochromic properties
digital light processing (dlp)
vat photopolymerization
title Development of 4D printed smart fresnel lenses: dynamic photochromic and UV-blocking capabilities via vat photopolymerization
title_full Development of 4D printed smart fresnel lenses: dynamic photochromic and UV-blocking capabilities via vat photopolymerization
title_fullStr Development of 4D printed smart fresnel lenses: dynamic photochromic and UV-blocking capabilities via vat photopolymerization
title_full_unstemmed Development of 4D printed smart fresnel lenses: dynamic photochromic and UV-blocking capabilities via vat photopolymerization
title_short Development of 4D printed smart fresnel lenses: dynamic photochromic and UV-blocking capabilities via vat photopolymerization
title_sort development of 4d printed smart fresnel lenses dynamic photochromic and uv blocking capabilities via vat photopolymerization
topic additive manufacturing
3d printing
4d printed
fresnel lenses
photochromic properties
digital light processing (dlp)
vat photopolymerization
url https://www.light-am.com/article/doi/10.37188/lam.2025.011
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AT muradali developmentof4dprintedsmartfresnellensesdynamicphotochromicanduvblockingcapabilitiesviavatphotopolymerization
AT rashidkabualrub developmentof4dprintedsmartfresnellensesdynamicphotochromicanduvblockingcapabilitiesviavatphotopolymerization
AT haiderbutt developmentof4dprintedsmartfresnellensesdynamicphotochromicanduvblockingcapabilitiesviavatphotopolymerization