Centimeter-level electrowetting liquid lens with a large zoom range

As an emerging adaptive optical component, the liquid lens has become a key technology for the miniaturization and enhanced stability of modern optical systems, owing to its inherent advantages such as millisecond-scale rapid response and compact structure, among which electrowetting liquid lenses have garnered significant attention due to their non-mechanical operation, low power consumption, and ease of integration. However, their performance in large-aperture applications remains constrained by issues such as dielectric breakdown and a limited optical focusing range. To overcome these aperture-related limitations, current researches focus on optimizing the liquid material systems and cavity structures to extend the focal adjustment range.,In this study, a paraxial optical model of centimeter-scale electrowetting solution lenses was established, and the factors affecting the optical power were analyzed. Under the guidance of theoretical insights, insulating liquid materials with high refractive index have been fabricated on the basis of existing conductive liquids. The relationship between the mass fraction of multiple components and the physical properties of the liquid series has been quantitatively characterized through multiple linear regression analysis. The assembled liquid pair, composed of the fabricated insulating liquid and a highly stable conductive liquid, exhibits a refractive index difference of 0.1612–0.1754 and the maximum contact angle change of 139.5°. The resulting 10 mm aperture liquid lens achieves large optical power variation range of 56.33 m⁻¹ under a low driving voltage of 0–110 V, demonstrating excellent overall performance. This work provides valuable technical insights for advancing the performance of liquid lenses, thereby facilitating the development and expanding the application scenarios of continuous zoom imaging systems.