Liquid microsphere arrays for imaging magnification

Liquid microsphere arrays (LMSAs) possess significant potential applications in imaging magnification of optical microscopy. In this work, we fabricate concave hole arrays (the diameter of concave hole D=20, 30, 100 μm) through the micro- and nano-imprint technology, then propose a novel template-directed self-assembly method to pull out LMSAs from glycerol. Under an optical microscope with a maximum of one thousand times magnification, The LMSAs with tunable convex heights (h=0-D/2) with ultra-smooth flexible surface provide the imaging magnification of 1-3.4. To the best of our knowledge, the LMSAs for imaging magnification is fairly novel and has not been reported. The LMSAs can serve as the significant passageways for imaging photon transmission based on the evanescent waves coupling. We further study the changing of magnification with the convex height and radius of the liquid microsphere. With the radius of liquid microsphere increasing, or the convex height of liquid microsphere decreasing, lower imaging magnification can be obtained which is consistent with the simulation results. This self-assembly methods of LMSAs we reported shows great possibility in future design and fabrication of imaging magnification devices.