The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

Here, we present a unique one-step vapor-phase process, termed sulfur chemical vapor deposition (sCVD), to generate highly stable, ultrahigh refractive index (n > 1.9) polymers directly from elemental sulfur. The deposition process involved vapor-phase radical polymerization between elemental sulfur and vinyl monomers to provide polymer films with controlled thickness and sulfur content, along with the refractive index as high as 1.97. Notably, the HRIP thin film showed unprecedented optical transparency throughout the visible range, attributed to the absence of long polysulfide segments within the polymer, which will serve as a key component in a wide range of optical devices. In this presentation, the application of sCVD sulfur-rich polymer films to optical device applications will be reviewed.