Thermally responsive microlens arrays fabricated with the use of defect arrays in a smectic liquid crystal

Defects in a smectic liquid crystal, toric focal conic domains (TFCDs), were developed for the fabrication of thermally responsive microlens arrays. In this system, each TFCD acts as a separate focusing unit via the intrinsic molecular orientation of the TFCDs, and the focusing ability of the microlens varies with local environmental temperature.