Silicon is a versatile semiconductor material used in various industries and applications, including optical lenses.
Silicon lenses are popularly used for infrared applications that require optical components with high thermal conductivity and low weight.
Silicon plano-convex lenses, spherical lenses and aspherical lenses are ideal for optical systems that require collecting, focusing, or collimating light in the near-infrared, short-wave infrared (SWIR), mid-wave infrared (MWIR), or long-wave infrared (LWIR) spectra.
Lattice Materials specializes in manufacturing CZ-optical grade silicon lens material and optical lenses with high optical clarity and a broad spectral range.
We use advanced high-precision curve generation techniques to accurately shape the lens surfaces, making them ideal for cutting-edge applications in precision optics.
Optical clarity is crucial for IR applications in diverse fields such as biomedical imaging, commercial optics and unmanned systems such as those used for environmental monitoring or reconnaissance.
Cutting-edge applications such as medical optics, night vision cameras or optical systems in unmanned equipment require high-precision lenses that transmit light rays efficiently while maintaining the purity and accuracy of light.
The following key properties of silicon lenses make them suitable for high-precision applications:
Silicon lenses function optimally across a wide range of wavelengths. This broad spectral range enables silicon lenses to transmit light efficiently across various wavelengths.
Moh’s Hardness: 7
Refractive Index @25℃: 3.456 @ 2 microns
Melting Point: 1412°C
Density: 2.329 g/cm 3
Absorption Coefficient @25℃: 0.027 to 0.040 (varies with resistivity)
Along with surface quality, the curvature of lenses used in optical systems is also important as it directly impacts the path of light rays passing through the lenses.
Precise curve generation techniques are used to shape lens surfaces to ensure that light can be focused or collimated as required.
High-precision curve generation minimizes aberrations, such as spherical aberration, coma, astigmatism, and distortion.
Silicon is relatively lightweight, with a low density as compared to other substrates used in IR applications, such as germanium, zinc selenide, fused silica and calcium fluoride, making it ideal for weight-sensitive optical systems used in a vast array of applications.
Apart from silicon optical lenses, other high-quality silicon components such as silicon windows and prisms can also be manufactured using either CZ silicon or float zone silicon.
Diameter: Up to 14.5”
Surface Quality: Up to D7 Machined
Polishing: Curve polish
Sag Tolerance: +/- 1 micron
Aspheres: Near net curve fit available
Custom thin film coatings, such as DLC and AR coating (antireflection coating) are available for increased durability.
*All specifications are dependent on part geometry.
In need of a custom silicon lens product? Contact Lattice Materials with your requirements and our expert sales representatives will reach out with more information on what is needed to deliver your silicon lens project within your desired timeline.