Hydrogels, due to their optical transparency and biocompatibility, have emerged as an excellent alternative to conventional optical materials for biomedical applications. Advances in microfabrication techniques have helped convert conventional hydrogels into optically functional materials such as hydrogel‐based diffraction optical elements (hDOEs). However, key challenges related to device customization and ease/speed of fabrication need to be addressed to enable widespread utility and acceptance of hDOEs in the field. Here, rapid printing of customized hDOEs is reported on polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) hydrogel using digital photopatterning; a novel method that combines simulated computer‐generated hologram (SCGH) and projection photolithography. To showcase the versatility of this approach, a range of hDOEs are demonstrated, including 1D/2D diffraction gratings, Dammann grating, Fresnel zone plate (FZP) lens, fork‐shaped grating, and computer‐generated hologram (CGH) of arbitrary pattern. Results demonstrate that printed hDOEs exhibit optical performance that is comparable with devices made with conventional materials. This versatile strategy can be potentially implemented with other photosensitive hydrogels to achieve user‐defined hDOEs in a time‐efficient and cost‐effective fashion.

中文翻译：

---

使用快速数字光图案化的水凝胶衍射光学元件 (hDOE)

水凝胶由于其光学透明性和生物相容性，已成为生物医学应用中传统光学材料的绝佳替代品。微加工技术的进步帮助将传统水凝胶转化为光学功能材料，例如基于水凝胶的衍射光学元件（hDOE）。然而，需要解决与设备定制和制造简易性/速度相关的关键挑战，以实现 hDOE 在现场的广泛应用和接受。在此，报道了使用数字光图案在聚乙二醇二丙烯酸酯（PEGDA）水凝胶上快速打印定制的 hDOE；一种结合了模拟计算机生成全息图（SCGH）和投影光刻技术的新颖方法。为了展示这种方法的多功能性，演示了一系列 hDOE，包括 1D/2D 衍射光栅、达曼光栅、菲涅尔波带板 (FZP) 透镜、叉形光栅和任意图案的计算机生成全息图 (CGH)。结果表明，印刷 hDOE 的光学性能可与传统材料制成的器件相媲美。这种多功能策略可以与其他光敏水凝胶一起实施，以省时且经济高效的方式实现用户定义的 hDOE。