Chalcogenide Hybrid Polymers for LWIR-Transparent Optical Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current IR imaging materials, particularly for LWIR thermal imaging, are expensive, difficult to process, and lack suitable transmissive materials for lenses and windows, limiting their mass production and application in economical devices.
Innovation Solution
Development of chalcogenide hybrid organic/inorganic polymers with non-aromatic hydrocarbon cyclic ring structures and chalcogenides like sulfur or selenium, which provide high LWIR transparency and thermal stability, enabling the production of lightweight, transparent optical components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional organic polymers are used for IR imaging, then processing is easier and cost is lower, but IR transparency (especially LWIR) is very poor due to strong C-H vibrational absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the polymer by replacing aromatic compounds with non-aromatic hydrocarbon cyclic structures and incorporating chalcogenide groups (S, Se, Te). This chemical parameter change eliminates the strong C-H vibrational absorption in the IR region while maintaining polymer processability and mechanical properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite material system by combining organic polymer chains with inorganic chalcogenide groups to form chalcogenide-containing polymers. This composite structure integrates the processing advantages of organic polymers with the IR transparency of inorganic chalcogenide materials, achieving both ease of manufacture and high IR transparency.
2Reliability
If chalcogenide glasses and amorphous germanium are used for LWIR imaging, then excellent optical properties are achieved, but materials are dense, expensive, toxic, and difficult to process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, difficult-to-process chalcogenide glasses and amorphous germanium with chalcogenide-containing polymers that can be easily manufactured through conventional polymer processing techniques. The polymer materials are less dense, less toxic, and can be processed using standard techniques while maintaining excellent LWIR optical properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material state from inorganic glass/semiconductor to organic polymer, fundamentally altering the processing parameters and methods required. The polymer form enables solution processing, molding, and other low-cost manufacturing techniques while preserving the desired optical transmission properties in the LWIR region.
3Stability of the object's composition
If aromatic compounds are used in chalcogenide hybrids, then structural stability is improved, but strong absorption in LWIR region occurs making materials opaque
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the aromatic ring structures from the polymer backbone, replacing them with non-aromatic hydrocarbon cyclic structures. This extraction eliminates the source of strong IR absorption while the chalcogenide groups are retained to provide structural stability and enhance IR transparency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality modification by specifically targeting the aromatic ring structures for removal while preserving the chalcogenide-containing segments of the polymer. This localized change maintains the structural stability provided by chalcogenide groups while eliminating the harmful IR absorption associated with aromatic compounds.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides chalcogenide hybrid organic/inorganic polymers (“CHIPs” or organic chalcogenide polymers) and methods for producing and using the same. In particular, the chalcogenide hybrid organic/inorganic polymers of the invention comprise a hydrocarbon cyclic ring structure and one or more chalcogenide selected from the group consisting of sulfur, selenium, cyclic selenium sulfide, and a combination thereof.