Graphene electrodes for adaptive liquid crystal contact lenses

The superlatives of graphene cover a whole range of properties: electrical, chemical, mechanical, thermal and others.These special properties earn graphene a place in current or future applications.Here we demonstrate one such application -adaptive contact lenses based on liquid crystals, where simultaneously the high electrical conductivity, transparency, flexibility and elasticity of graphene are being utilised.In our devices graphene is used as a transparent conductive coating on curved PMMA substrates.The adaptive lenses provide a +0.7 D change in optical power with an applied voltage of 7.1 V rms -perfect to correct presbyopia, the age-related condition that limits the near focus ability of the eye.