Invention:
This invention is a method of producing Chalcogenide hybrid organic/inorganic polymers using an inverse vulcanization process, which results in polymers possessing a high refractive index and are solution processable.
Background:
Flexible optical mirrors and reflectors in the short-wave infrared and mid-infrared spectrum are critical for the advancement of infrared imaging. High refractive polymers are a possible solution to create such technology but there are currently no synthetic polymers that have sufficiently high refractive index and infrared transparency to do so.
Applications:
- Fabrication of mirrors and reflectors in the short-wave infrared and mid-infrared spectrum
Advantages:
- Possesses unique optical properties such as high refractive index and high infrared transparency
- Easy/efficient solution processing with other inexpensive, commercially available low refractive index polymers
