We demonstrate an additive manufacturing approach to produce gradient refractive index glass optics. Using direct ink writing with an active inline micromixer, we three-dimensionally print multimaterial green bodies with compositional gradients, consisting primarily of silica nanoparticles and varying concentrations of titania as the index-modifying dopant. The green bodies are then consolidated into glass and polished, resulting in optics with tailored spatial profiles of the refractive index. We show that this approach can be used to achieve a variety of conventional and unconventional optical functions in a flat glass component with no surface curvature.

我们演示了一种增材制造方法来生产梯度折射率玻璃光学器件。通过使用主动式在线微型混合器直接进行墨水书写，我们可以三维打印具有成分梯度的多材料生坯，该生坯主要由二氧化硅纳米颗粒和不同浓度的二氧化钛作为折射率调节掺杂剂组成。然后将生坯固结到玻璃中并抛光，从而得到具有定制折射率分布的光学器件。我们表明，该方法可用于在没有表面曲率的平板玻璃组件中实现各种常规和非常规光学功能。