Technique Streamlines AR Coating for 3D-Printed Micro-Optics

Researchers at the University of Stuttgart have developed a low-temperature atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique for applying antireflective (AR) coatings to lens surfaces in multi-lens systems. The technique could reduce reflectivity and enhance transmission in complex, 3D-printed micro-optics systems consisting of lenses as small as 600 µm. As a manufacturing technique for optical elements, 3D printing has many advantages, including the capabilities to create freeform surfaces such as aspheric lenses and to print multi-lens systems in perfect alignment. 3D-printed multi-lens systems are printed in a single process that includes any hollow parts and undercuts in the system. Conventional coating methods, such as...