Fig. 1. Schematic diagram of the light-activated FDOEs. (a) Diagram of the light-activated FDOE with 1D beam steering. The mesogen arrangement in the light-activated LCP film aligns along the x-axis (white dashed box), causing UV/Vis-induced film deformation of the FDOE (black dashed box) along the same axis. Consequently, the ±1st order diffraction spots migrate in the 1D direction as the FDOE bends. (b) Diagram of the light-activated FDOE with 2D beam steering. The mesogen arrangement in the light-activated LCP film aligns along the diagonal (white dashed box), leading to UV/Vis-induced film deformation of the FDOE (black dashed box) along the same diagonal. Consequently, the ±1st order diffraction spots rotate in the 2D plane as the FDOE bends.

Fig. 2. Characterization of the 20-µm period light-activated film PG with 1D beam steering. (a) The deformation and recovery of the light-activated film PG under sequential UV light (365 nm, 10 mW·cm⁻²) and visible light (500 nm, 20 mW·cm⁻²) irradiation. The red dotted line outlines the deformation. The scale bar is 5 mm. (b) Phase distribution (left) and microscopy texture (right) of the 20-µm period PG. The scale bar is 200 µm. (c) Images of the ±1st order diffraction spots migrating in the 1D direction with UV light irradiation. From top to bottom, the UV light is irradiated at 0, 4, 8, 12, and 15 s. The incident light is linearly polarized with wavelengths of 633, 532, and 457 nm, respectively. The diffraction spots are captured at 70 cm. The scale bar is 5 mm. (d) Images of intensity distribution during the ±1st order diffraction spots migrating in the 1D direction. (e) Curve of the diffraction angle with UV/Vis irradiation time. (f) Curve of the diffraction efficiency with UV/Vis irradiation time.

Fig. 3. Characterization of the 20-µm period light-activated film PG with 2D beam steering. (a) The deformation and recovery of the light-activated film PG under sequential UV light (365 nm, 10 mW·cm⁻²) and visible light (500 nm, 20 mW·cm⁻²) irradiation. The red dotted line outlines the deformation. The scale bar is 5 mm. (b) Images of the ±1st order diffraction spots rotating in the 2D plane with UV light irradiation. From top to bottom, the UV light is irradiated at 0, 4, 8, 12, and 15 s. The incident light is linearly polarized with wavelengths of 633, 532, and 457 nm, respectively. The diffraction spots are captured at 70 cm. The scale bar is 5 mm. (c) Curve of the 2D rotation angle of the ±1st order diffraction spot with UV irradiation time at incident wavelengths of 633, 532, and 457 nm, respectively.

Fig. 4. Characterization of the light-activated film FPG, Airy mask, and q-plate with optical field modulations. (a) Phase distribution (top) and microscopy texture (down) of the light-activated film FPG with the period of 50 µm and the topological charge of +2. The scale bar is 200 µm. (b) Images of the ±1st diffracted order switching between vortex light and Gaussian light under UV light (365 nm, 10 mW·cm⁻²) irradiation, based on the x-axis bending light-activated film FPG. From top to bottom, the UV light is irradiated at 0, 5, 10, and 15 s. The scale bar is 3 mm. (c) Images of the ±1st diffracted order switching between vortex light and Gaussian light under UV light (365 nm, 10 mW·cm⁻²) irradiation, based on the diagonal bending light-activated film FPG. From top to bottom, the UV light is irradiated at 0, 4, 8, 12, and 15 s. The scale bar is 3 mm. (d) Microscopy texture of the Airy mask whose geometric phase distribution follows β(x, y) = a (x³ + y³) in the x–y plane, where a is 4.05 × 10⁻⁷. The scale bar is 200 µm. (e) Images of the switching between the Airy beam and Gaussian light with UV light (365 nm, 10 mW·cm⁻²) irradiation based on the x-axis bending light-activated film Airy mask. The scale bar is 3 mm. (f) Microscopy texture of the q-plate with the topological charge of +4. The scale bar is 200 µm. (g) Images of the switching between the vortex light and Gaussian light with UV light (365 nm, 10 mW·cm⁻²) irradiation based on the x-axis bending light-activated film q-plate. The scale bar is 3 mm. The incident light is linearly polarized with a wavelength of 633 nm. All diffraction spots are captured at 70 cm.

Fig. 5. Performance tests of the light-activated FDOE. (a) Fatigue resistance of the FDOE upon irradiations of UV light and visible light alternatively for 20 cycles. (b) Curve of the final diffraction angle (left) and initial diffraction efficiency (right) over time by immersing the FDOE in water, alcohol, and n-hexane. (c) Curve of the final diffraction angle (left) and initial diffraction efficiency (right) over time of the FDOE after standing at room temperature (25°C), high temperature (100°C), and low temperature (−20°C), respectively.