A photoswitchable handheld volumetric 3D display

The use of photochromic materials in volumetric three-dimensional (3D) displays can allow rich visual experiences by representing 3D content that occupies a real volume of physical space. We discovered that doping visible-light-activated azo-BF₂ switches into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymers can result in volumetric beam-addressable canvases. The straightforward manipulation of the canvas with red and blue light illumination using digital light processing and/or heat (i.e., thermal back isomerization) generates tunable, reversible, and high-contrast and -resolution images. These properties were used in designing a rewritable, solid-state, and handheld volumetric 3D photochromic display that can be recursively used for showcasing static volumetric 3D images and dynamic 2D animations.