Dynamic, remote-controllable electroactive hydrogel waveguide architectures

Remote-controllable waveguide architectures inspired by living organisms with unique flexible, light guiding properties were fabricated using self-trapped beams of incoherent light. Made of electroactive hydrogels, light-guiding structures are generated through a nonlinear, self-inscription process that utilizes visible beams from light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Due to irreversible refractive index changes experienced by photoinduced chemical reactions, these self-trapped beams permanently inscribe cylindrical waveguides along their paths. Taking advantage of this phenomena, we fabricate macro-scale, remote controllable waveguide structures in the form of rectangular prisms and arrays of cylindric waveguides. We also fabricate micro-scale structures for remote actuation, in the form of rectangular prisms embedded with thousands of waveguide units. By applying and varying external electric fields, we dynamically control the bending, angular orientation, and rotation (up to 360°) of these pliant light-guiding structures. This allows precise, remote control of the waveguided light output.