Dynamic Covalent Sulfur-Selenium Rich Polymers via Inverse Vulcanization for High Refractive Index, High...

Recent advancements in inverse vulcanization have led to the development of sulfur-rich polymers with diverse applications. However, progress is constrained by the harsh high-temperature reaction conditions, limited applicability, and the generation of hazardous H₂S gas. This study presents an induced IV method utilizing selenium octanoic acid, yielding sulfur-selenium rich polymers with full atom economy, even at a low-temperatures of 100-120 °C. The resultant sulfur-selenium rich polymers exhibit exceptional optical properties: 1) A high refractive index, reaching 1.89 when the total sulfur-selenium content is 65%; 2) Excellent UV shielding capabilities, blocking ultraviolet rays while permitting 95.1-98.6% transmission of visible light; 3) Notable transparency, with polymer films of 0.94 mm thickness exhibiting good transparency under natural light. The materials also demonstrate environmental stability under prolonged exposure to hot or cold conditions. Additionally, the polymers display adhesive strength as evidenced by two adhered glass slides with the material lifting weights of up to 20 kg without any displacement in their glued area. These properties provide a new avenue for sulfur-selenium rich materials to be implemented in high-precision optical instruments with unique characteristics.